Khaldoun Naffaa, head of the e-Government Programme Management Office, told The Jordan Times the step is designed to provide the adequate infrastructure for implementing e-Government services. Currently there are six departments already connected, including the Prime Ministry, the Ministry of Planning and International Co-operation, the Ministry of Finance, and the MoICT, Naffaa said.
The total number of this network's users amounts to 650 government workers, but Naffaa said the new plan will add around 12,000 to 15,000 government employees to the network.
According to the ministry, the new wide band network will operate under a high level of information security standards. Naffaa explained that technical, organisational, procedural and national security measures are being taken to ensure the safe transmission of information. He said the network would be managed through the e-Government Operations Centre at the National Information Technology Centre, based at the Royal Scientific Society.
Naffaa added that the government is already providing electronic services in certain departments including the Telecommunication Regulatory Commission and the Social Security Corporation. He noted that the Income and Sales Tax Department and the Land and Survey Department would start providing full e-services within the coming weeks.
"Shared departmental services, authentication, social security services, electronic payments and Internet services will be introduced in these departments," Naffaa said.
"If you want to apply for a residency permit for a worker in your company, you will no longer have to go to the Ministry of Health to get a health certificate, then get it stamped by the Ministry of Labour and other departments, you will only have to go to one department, or go online, and complete the process there," he explained.
However, Naffaa said introducing e-Government requires changing laws that would allow e-services, in addition, it also requires training all government workers on using the network and a public awareness campaign to explain the benefits to citizens.
He added that a call centre will be giving technical support for users all-day long. The centre will guide both workers and beneficiaries on how to use e-services, and report any problems or defects in the system to the Operations Centre so it can be fixed immediately from Amman.
His Majesty King Abdullah initiated the e-Government Programme with a view to enhance the performance of government in terms of service provision, efficiency, accuracy, time and cost effectiveness, transparency, customer satisfaction and cross-governmental integration.
The new network will include the ministries of foreign affairs, interior, labour and tourism, as well as the Civil Status and Passport Department, Land and Survey Department, Borders and Residency Department, General Intelligence Department, Drivers and Vehicles Licensing Department, and Income and Sales Tax Department and Civil Service Bureau.
Quelle: MENAFN, 21.09.2004
