DOHA: The GCC states yesterday launched their first joint e-government portal that enables them to provide unified electronic services to citizens and expatriates and facilitate easier and faster exchange of information.
Citizens and expatriates in the member countries can avail of various services at the portal, especially those related to customs, traffic department and transport , establishment of business and companies , participation in tenders, among others, a senior official has disclosed.
The portal will be instrumental in the GCC plan to unify the various government services that are provided electronically. Services on the portal are expected to include those provided by the Ministry of Interior, Ministry of Education, Ministry of Health and Ministry of Environment.
The common electronic network would eventually enable citizens and expatriates to pay traffic fines and renew their travel and residency documents from any of the member countries.
The portal was launched at a meeting of the GCC e-Government Ministerial Committee which concluded here yesterday. The committee also inaugurated the e-Security Network that links the GCC e-government networks.
The Minister of Information and Communications Technology H E Dr Hessa Al Jaber chaired the meeting, which was attended by her counterparts in other member states and the GCC Secretary-General Dr Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani.
Hassan Al Sayed, assistant secretary general for government programmes at the ministry said that the GCC electronic portal has two versions- internet and smart phones.
The first phase includes information about e-government programmes and a direct link to electronic services provided by the official portals of the member countries in areas like health, education, work and tourism. It will also provide information about important events and news in all GCC countries.
In a press statement yesterday, Al Sayed said the electronic link between the GCC states aims to link e-governments of the member countries through a secured and reliable data network. This will allow easy and safe exchange of information to provide various e-government services to citizens and expatriates.
Addressing the meeting, Dr Al Jaber said the GCC strategy document on e-government has resulted in joint initiatives and projects.
She noted that the fruit of this cooperation is the launch of the GCC e-government portal and inauguration of the e-security network.
She said Qatar has finalised technical procedures for the GCC electronic network project.
The committee also discussed a UN survey on the readiness of the GCC states to implement e-government.
In the report, GCC states ranked first in the Arab countries, among the first 10 countries in Asia and among 50 countries in the world out of 195.
The Peninsula
