An entrepreneur said she was frustrated when she tried to apply for a commercial import permit for plants with the Ministry of Industry and Primary Resources which is currently in the process of migrating their services online.
She was told that her application would take several days longer than usual to process as they would have to send it to the ministry's headquarters in the capital as they have to register her online to the eMIPE system before she could apply for any of the services provided by the ministry.
Among the requirements for the online registry, which was tested out by The Brunei Times recently, was for digital copies of personal documents such as identity card, passport, and photos.
Running a small business selling plants at the market, a woman who is in her late 60s said she does not even have a computer at home, let alone send digital copies of her identity card, passport, and business licence.
Similar accounts were also related by other entrepreneurs when they tried to use the ministry's services with other applications, permits and business licences in a variety of businesses.
The only problem with this, said an observer, is that not everybody who requires these services are techno-savvy or even has the advantages of a computer or Internet access to use the online system.
Others have also complained how the service seems to be irrelevant as it still calls for applicants to visit the ministry to process certain requirements such as payments and application.
According to Rosenah Hj Awg Besar, a flora and fauna enthusiast who recently went to apply for registration, she was told to process the application online but had to visit the ministry to make certain payments.
"The concept of e-services being easy and convenient for the public is lost in this way," she said, adding that she had to go through a lot more hassle than before.
She suggested that with each service that is migrated online, the old method should still be made available to the public as this would be more convenient, until the new procedures are fully implemented.
According to the ministry's website, the move to eMIPR is in line with their efforts to streamline and improve their delivery of public services to fulfill its role as a facilitator for the development of the country through fast, efficient and friendly online services for businesses, entrepreneurs and investors.
Business help centres have also been set up at the offices of the ministry and related departments throughout the country, to assist computer illiterate applicants to access the eMIPR Portal, as well as provide information on online services of eMIPR, the web site stated.
However, these services in other districts outside of Brunei-Muara are currently only there to provide assistance in checking the status of the client's registration and not the registration process itself, pointed observers, as the procedure still has to go through the main Business Help Centre at the ministry's Industry and Trade Information Centre.
Applicants from other districts are still required to go to the headquarters in person once the online registration is made to proceed with their application of services such as payments.
The eMIPR website was also created to provide foreign investors information of Brunei’s business opportunities to attract their interest to invest in the Sultanate.
A senior ministry official previously said that more features are being planned, including the e-Payment gateway and SMS gateway, which will be introduced in the near future.
The online registration for eMIPR is an excellent and efficient move towards providing more convenience for the public, but it still needs to be improved to achieve its objectives, said analysts.
---
Quelle/Source: Brunei Direct, 07.04.2009
Bitte besuchen Sie/Please visit:
