Manama, February 25 (BNA): The Ministry of Municipalities Affairs & Agriculture introduced the Agricultural Import Permit issuing service via the Ministry’s website and the national eGovernment portal as part of government initiatives to improve and re-engineer the quality of services.
Municipalities Ministry launches Agricultural Import Permit issuance service
The new digital service intends to improve global performance indicators linked to the simplification of goods clearance procedures, expedite transaction processing, and develop the mechanism for issuing import permits for plants, plant products, fertilizers, soil enhancers, and pesticides.
In addition to cutting down on the number of necessary processes and approvals, the service has shortened the processing time from four working days to one working day. To facilitate automated data verification, the system is connected to several government platforms, such as commercial registration records. After making an electronic payment, consumers can also issue and print the import permission. In order to ease payment without requiring in-person attendance, the service offers options for issuing, renewing, amending, and deleting applications in addition to a single price mechanism. A QR code is used to protect the permit and confirm its authenticity, improving efficiency and transparency while saving importers time and effort.
The Ministry of Municipalities Affairs and Agriculture’s Undersecretary for Agriculture Affairs and Animal Wealth, Asim Abdullatif Abdullah, stated that the service is a reflection of the Ministry’s use of cutting-edge digital solutions to improve service effectiveness and accomplish integration among organizations engaged in the agricultural trade sector. He added that it also speeds up procedural procedures and enhances the corporate environment.
He continued by saying that the launch is a part of the ongoing development of services pertaining to international trade, with the goals of streamlining processes, improving user experience, and providing cutting-edge electronic services in line with the Kingdom’s demands for digital transformation.
Over 1,300 government services have been released, translated, and documented as part of continuous government efforts to develop and re-engineer them; approximately 800 services are now being developed and re-engineered across different government sectors.
The National System for Suggestions and Complaints, Tawasul, investor feedback, secret shopper surveys assessing government services, the introduction of guidance manuals and service level agreements, and other suggestions and feedback about government services provide the basis for this.
These initiatives enhance the government’s digital transformation process, strengthen beneficiary experiences, improve procedural efficiency, and improve service quality.
