The symposium titled "e-government challenges" is being hosted by Qatar e-government. The topics at the symposium will include the infrastructure to establish e-governments, a case study of the Qatari e-government which is already in place, laws covering e-governments, co-operation between e-governments, e-payment gateway, challenges confronting e-governments, Post as a mode of enhancing services and purchases and the role of communication in further developing e-government.
Experts from local banks, other leading companies and corporations and international organisations will also attend the event.
Talking at a press conference yesterday, Dr Ahmad Hamed Al Mohanadi, director of e-government said the major challenge faced in implementation of e-government in Qatar was to change the mindset of people in the process of migrating from the conventional system to the electronic one.
He, however, said despite the obstacles, Qatar had gone a long way in implementing e-government in the functioning of various ministries and government departments. "The infrastructure, technology and standards are already set. The new system is in place in various sectors. The major challenge now is to create more public awareness about the benefits of e-government," he said.
Haytham Abduljawad, programme executive manager, e-government project said, 4.5m people had visited the e-government website and more than 4,450 transactions were made through the facility only in February. "
In the number of transactions, Qatar comes among the nine countries leading in implementation of e-government," claimed Ahmad Al Mohanadi. It has been growing at a rate of 15.6 per cent every month, the officials said.
Eng Ahmad M Al Kuwari, acting operations manager, e-government project, Ahmed Zidane, its marketing assistant and Abubacker Othman, executive manager, Geotec, organisers of the symposium were also present at the press conference.
"We are aiming to set up a single window, an electronic gateway for all who wish to avail of the facility. This is our goal although it would take time to achieve," said Ahmed Al Mohanadi.
He said implementation of e-government would not have an adverse impact on the labour market. "e-government is to enhance intelligence and improve the efficiency of the government functioning. The bureaucracy will be pulled down, as people will have direct access to information," he said.
More departments to go electronic
DOHA: Any ministry or government department which has employed a minimum of 150 people will be required to go through e-government, Ahmed Hamed Al Mohanadi, director of e-government, said yesterday.
There is a plan to expand the electronic services for issuance of exit permits after its successful implementation in the issuance and renewal of visas, residence permits, health cards etc, he added.
He said the postal sector in Qatar has been taken as a model for other sectors in the implementation of e-government.
Quelle: Keralanext, 05.03.2005
