Gov't's fifth executive bundle garners praise from experts

AMMAN — Experts on Tuesday praised the government’s fifth executive bundle to improve e-services and business in the Kingdom, saying that a one-window application to unite all government services will positively impact the economy and society.

Nidal Bitar, the CEO of the Information and Communications Technology Association (Int@j) told The Jordan Times over the phone that the bundle is "very positive and will bring comfort to people", noting that the government will need to run marketing campaigns for the service to become popular among the public.

“Although it is late, it is great that the bundle arrived. Better late than never,” Bitar said, noting that this is “only the first step” and expressing hope that the design and use of the one-window e-services platform will be consistent for greater usability by all.

Director of the Phenix Centre for Economic Studies Ahmad Awad also praised the fifth bundle and its aim to stimulate the economy through digitalising services, expressing hope that in the future it would not impact the rights of workers in governmental institutions.

“The bundle was very much needed to improve the business environment, and I believe the challenge now is to actually implement this bundle as promised, exerting all possible efforts,” he concluded.

For his part, Economist Husam Ayesh said that Sanad, the one-window application for government e-services, will provide quality service to all citizens at all times.

“This calls for including more citizens in the banking system in order for them to use online payment methods, which are possible through having a bank account, and this also calls for more supervision on how the services will be implemented,” Ayesh said, noting that any misuse of the application could have negative effects on the user.

The application should reduce traffic jams, as there will be a lowered need to travel to public institutions, and in turn reduce energy and fuel bills, which will reflect on the country’s spending and imports in the fuel sector, Ayesh said.

As for public workers who previously provided services that have been digitalised, Ayesh said their services should be utilised and capitalised on elsewhere in order to ensure their roles ”do not go to waste or continue under masked unemployment”. 

The impact of the bundle should be reflected in local reports, including those of the Audit Bureau, Ayesh noted, anticipating that, as of 2020, the bundle should reduce the volume of corruption and bureaucracy, increasing the speed of delivering services and raising productivity in the public sector.

Concerning the second aspect of the bundle, which includes the formation of special committees to address the grievances of investors, taxpayers and citizens, Ayesh said the committees must involve entities with expertise in dealing with grievances in their decision-making and evaluation procedures.

Ayesh said that he expects the fifth bundle to garner "a lot of positive feedback" if implemented properly, and to reflect positively on business activity in the Kingdom.