The management of the e-government project an ambitious plan which aims to turn the country's administration from manual to electronic selected 180 proposals of 62 Qatari nationals involved in a four-day project.
"We have received amazing inputs and excellent ideas from the participants," said Mai Al Mansour, administration and finance manager of the e-government. "Their ideas will be used to improve our services while meeting the demands of the public."
The 62 Qatari nationals, selected from the users of the e-government services, went through a four-day programme aimed at expanding ideas and proposals on how to upgrade the online services.
The final proposals include the creation of an on-line map of the country helping the public to identify areas and locations, on-line services for the people with special needs, the creation of an electronic link among ministries and many others.
Al Mansour said: "The outcome is the result of a wide range of ideas where the e-government services have a double function, providing useful information as well as offering online services, such as renewing business licences or obtaining residence and visa permits."
Al Mansour said the e- government is also holding training courses for Qatari jobseekers.
"It is an important initiative helping young graduates and jobseekers among Qatari nationals to prepare or fill in a CV presenting themselves in the best possible way to their potential employers."
Since it was founded in 2001, the e-government project declared war to red tape and paper work by launching a massive advertising campaign to promote electronic transactions among users of governmental services.
As a result, online transactions are growing by 30 per cent every month.
On August 23rd, the online transaction reached a record 10,000, the highest number of transactions in a month since the service was started, the official said.
Online - Just a click away
Qatar's e-government services include: Visit visas, residence permits, health cards, driving licences, checking and paying traffic fines, electricity and water bills, Zakat fund, Red Crescent, Qatari employment, student registration and birth certificate.
New Services to be offered by the Qatari e-government: Vehicle registration and renewals, approvals for private citizens and residents to import manpower, issuing and renewal of passports and ID cards, commercial registration, taxation and customs, issuing of work permits to foreigners, commercial permits and their annual renewal, certificates for food import, industrial licensing, export exemptions and industrial registration.
Autor: Barbara Bibbo
Quelle: Gulf News, 27.08.2005
