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Sheikh Ahmad: 'Project will do away with paper work, procedures'

Minister of Communications and Minister of Health Sheikh Ahmad Al-Abdullah Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah underlined Thursday that State of Kuwait is making serious and well studied strides for putting the e-government in action.In a speech delivered during a Ramadan celebration organized by the Microsoft Company, he said the e-government is the first step for the "Electronic Kuwait" that could completely rule out paper work and traditional procedures.He said that during his latest visit to the American Microsoft headquarters he briefed officials on the experience of the Ministry of Health in the e-applications sphere.Kuwait, he said, has most elements required for success in the e-field foremost being the wide use of computers and communication infrastructures.He stressed that optic fiber networks would be installed in 36 areas with second phase to be completed in the remaining Kuwaiti areas.

Sheikh Ahmad noted the invitation passed to Microsoft chief Bill Gates to visit Kuwait is of great significance due to long strides in deliberations on the e-government project.The Minister is in Singapore to sign the second phase of the e-government project with the Singaporean side as the first phase has already been terminated in September.Al-Sabah told Kuwait News Agency (KUNA) that he is satisfied with the progress over the pace of deliberations between the Singaporean and Kuwaiti technical teams in charge of making the electronic government in Kuwait a reality.He and his accompanying delegation are expected to tour a number of hospitals in Singapore and get acquainted with their latest technologies so that Kuwaiti hospitals could benefit from such development.The Minister hailed the distinguished reputation of Singapore in various aspects particularly in the health domains.

He said that Kuwait was proud to have such a partner such as Singapore which is willing to assist Kuwait in the implementation of the e-government in the government departments which in return will ease pressure put on employees and people seeking to perform their transactions which they could do at home rather than going to the concerned ministries. The visit of the Minister and the technical team will open a wider horizon of cooperation between the two countries and that Kuwait will enter a new era following the finalization of the e-government deliberations and discussions as well as the reciprocal visits among both countries' technical teams. Kuwaitis and expatriates will then find it so easy to perform their transactions from home and inquire about their queries using only a computer button. The implementation of the e-government has been a dream for everyone, and with the numerous visits by the concerned technical teams from both countries, such a dream will be a reality soon.

Quelle: Arab Times, 22.10.2005