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