Sijilat 3.0 offers new e-services

Bahrain’s business-friendly environment has been enhanced with the launch of Sijilat 3.0 – the latest version of a web-based system that allows businesses to register and renew their licences online.

Improvements in the new system include a portfolio of new e-services for investors allowing them to manage their business easily from anywhere in the world as well as a 60 per cent reduction in the number of steps to access services.

Announcing key features of the more “user-friendly and efficient” Sijilat 3.0, Industry and Commerce Minister Abdulla Fakhro told a Press conference at the Bahrain Chamber’s Bait Al Tijjar headquarters yesterday that the updated system uses modern programming techniques that are compatible with a variety of devices.

It also includes new services, such as the “automated guide” service, which is an interactive tool that helps investors determine the appropriate structure for their commercial registration or activity before they start their business.

The system also allows businesses to print certificates and data for their commercial registrations through the Sijilat e-system, in addition to providing and improving 10 services for CR holders.

The Sijilat 3.0 development process included adding a ‘dashboard’ to display all commercial records, enabling investors to complete transactions such as submitting requests, deleting records, renewing and searching for active records, searching for commercial activities, and renewing records without a licence, explained the minister.

It also included adding a help page and a feature to inquire about transactions.

A set of tools are now available to help users with the application process, including a cost and time period calculator, an activity comparison tool, and sample documents.

Investors

The new system also features guidance videos for all services, a business requirements guide, and virtual customer service.

Mr Fakhro said hosting the system on a private cloud provided by Amazon Web Services would help increase speed, efficiency, and quality of services.

Also speaking was Information and e-Government Authority chief executive Mohammed Al Qaed who emphasised that the government is committed to further developing the Sijilat integrated electronic portal with an aim to attract Bahraini, Gulf, and international investors.

He expressed his appreciation to the teams that worked on the new system and said that the authority will continue to develop Sijilat in partnership with the Industry and Commerce Ministry and other concerned entities.

Bahrain Chamber chairman Sameer Abdullah Nass said that the launch of the improved Sijilat system is a step towards developing and improving the quality of services. He added that such initiatives help to achieve sustainability for the entrepreneurship and investment sector, and maintain its growth and prosperity.

The first version of Sijilat was launched in 2015 making Bahrain the first country in the region to provide such a service. The first version of the system provided an e-link with commercial record licensees and the ‘Definition File’ service as a written guide for the use of various Sijilat services, as well as adding the services of commercial companies, most importantly issuing a CR.

In 2016, Sijilat 2.0 was launched, featuring the service of issuing a CR without a licence within 93 seconds only, in addition to including the adoption of the National Classification of Economic Activities (ISIC4).

Source: https://www.gdnonline.com/Details/1287775/Sijilat-30-offers-new-e-services