Aqaba, Sept. 3 (Petra) -- The Aqaba Special Economic Zone Authority (ASEZA) is expanding its electronic services and automating its procedures as part of its digital transformation efforts, allowing citizens and investors to submit and track transactions online and reducing the need for in-person visits and paper documents.
In remarks to the Jordan News Agency (Petra), ASEZA Commissioner for Administrative and Financial Affairs Karimah Al-Dabet said the authority has officially launched 161 electronic services through its e-services portal out of a total of 180 services, bringing the automation rate to about 89 percent.
She said the most frequently used electronic services include diving trip permits, work permit applications, work visas, building licenses, and company registration and permits, in addition to various services related to investment, economic activities, tourism and other services in the Aqaba Special Economic Zone.
The number of active users of the electronic services has reached around 19,000, while approximately 74,500 applications and transactions have been completed electronically since the beginning of the current year, averaging about 9,300 electronic transactions per month, Al-Dabet said.
She added that the shift to electronic services has generally reduced transaction processing times by more than half. Some transactions that previously took around 14 working days can now be completed in about seven working days, she said.
Citizens and investors can submit applications electronically, follow up on their processing and receive the resulting documents electronically, including documents and certificates sent through text messages, Al-Dabet said. The authority's services are also linked to the government's "Sanad" application to verify electronic documents.
She noted that in-person attendance at the authority's headquarters is no longer required except in certain cases, such as when a passport needs to be stamped or when the size of attachments prevents completion of the procedure electronically.
On electronic integration, Al-Dabet said the authority has established an integrated system for electronic connectivity with relevant government and private entities. Direct electronic links have been established with more than 19 government and private entities, while indirect links have been established with more than 40 entities.
The links have helped facilitate the exchange of data and information, reduce the need for paper documents and speed up transaction processing, she said.
Entities electronically linked with the authority include the Civil Status and Passport Department, Department of Lands and Survey, Civil Defense Department, Aqaba Health Directorate, Jordan Maritime Commission, Ministry of Industry, Trade and Supply, Companies Control Department, Social Security Corporation, Residence and Borders Department at the Public Security Directorate, Drivers and Vehicles Licensing Department, Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research, and the Jordan Engineers Association.
The authority is also electronically linked with the eFAWATEERcom electronic payment system and the Buildings and Lands Tax and Knowledge Department.
Al-Dabet said these efforts are part of the authority's approach to strengthening electronic integration among government entities and developing a digital environment that supports faster transaction processing and improves the efficiency of services provided to citizens and investors.
//Petra//WH
