30 October 2019, Doha - Qatar: The Ministry of Transport and Communications signed a memorandum of understanding with QNB to establish an electronic payment portal (ePay portal).
The MoU was signed during the Qatar Information Technology Conference and Exhibition (QITCOM 2019), held from 29 October to 1 November 2019, in the presence of H.E. Mr. Jassim Saif Al Sulaiti, and Mr. Abdullah Mubarak Al Khalifa, Acting Chief Executive Officer of QNB Group.
Under the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), QNB will establish the ePay portal according to the latest international specifications, to be launched and enter operation by the third quarter of 2020. The project is considered one of the most significant new projects for the Qatar Digital Government, which includes the Ministry of Finance as the entity responsible for the collection of revenues in the country.
The Digital Government 2020 strategy aims to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of government institutions and improve the services offered to the public by improving the level of government services for individuals and companies, raising the efficiency of government administrative processes, and increasing the levels of transparency and community participation.
The ePay portal will allow individual and corporate users to pay for the electronic services offered by various government departments in the country. The portal will cover all current and future ePayment needs through the provision of numerous options for payments through credit cards, debit cards, and bank transfers, using multiple payment channels, such as the internet, mobile phones and mobile points of sale (mPOS).
In addition to providing users with an easy and efficient method to complete their payment process, this portal will also bring several advantages to government agencies. The most notable advantages include a reduction in operating expenses due to the decrease in the number of resources required to establish, operate and support electronic payments, in addition to helping government entities provide e-government services in the shortest time possible.
On this occasion, Hassan Jassim Al Sayed, Assistant Undersecretary for Information Technology at the Ministry of Transport and Communications, said: “The signing of the memorandum of understanding (MoU) with QNB to develop the e-payment gateway is part of the goals of the Qatar Digital Government 2020 strategy to develop the common government services and streamline procedures. Our aim in this area is to increase efficiency, reduce effort, and standardise, and optimise the use of ICT resources through projects that support the country's digital transformation. ”
He added: "The e-payment gateway will offer various online payment options to all government entities, enabling the full automation of online services in a secure and reliable manner."
On QNB’s part, Ms. Heba Al-Tamimi, General Manager, QNB Group Retail, said: “We commend the efforts of the Ministry of Transport and Communications to develop the telecommunications and information technology sector in the country. We hereby reaffirm QNB’s keenness on providing advanced and secure banking services, which is what the e-Pay portal will offer, through which we aim to remain at the forefront of the global digital revolution. The State of Qatar is taking confident steps toward digital transformation in all sectors in the country, and we affirm our support of this approach for its vital role in the development of all areas of the country.”
The vision of the Qatar Digital Government aims to support the government agencies in achieving the integration of all the services provided by them in the country through activating and accelerating the pace of the digital transformation of all e-services in line with both the Qatar Digital Government 2020 strategy and Qatar National Vision 2030. The total number of government services launched as part of the Qatar Digital Government 2020 strategy reached more than 2,500 services as of last April.
In addition to the Ministry of Transport and Communications booth, where the ministry showcases all developments, projects and programs related to the smart transformation of different sectors of the country, QITCOM 2019 includes a special pavilion for the Qatar Digital Government. The Qatar Digital Government pavilion, which brings together various ministries and government institutions, includes a presentation of the latest digital services for the participating government entities, as well as a showcase of investment opportunities and projects to attract the private sector and specialized companies and encourage them to avail these opportunities.