E-Ticketing Holds Promise

Mr Sayed-Khaiyum further revealed how new jobs have been created either directly or indirectly because of e-Transport.

On average $10million worth of e-Ticketing top up cards are being done every month and an average total fare transactions value is $9.5m per month. Attorney-General Aiyaz SayedKhaiyum revealed this in Parliament yesterday.

While responding to a question from the Leader of Opposition Ro Teimumu Kepa on whether Government will introduce a dual payment system- paying in cash and through e-Transport card for bus travels, Mr Sayed-Khaiyum reminded her that it had been done before e-Transport mode of payment was made compulsory.

He also reminded her that widespread consultations had been undertaken country wide. Mr Sayed-Khaiyum asked the Opposition MPs to recall the resistance to ATM (Automated Teller Machines) when it was first introduced in Parliament.

While explaining, that e-Transport was working and that real life data was being collected which allowed the Land Transport Authority and other institutions to plan for better service delivery. From October 2017 – February 2018 the e-Ticketing system has registered 856,235 users.

There are approximately 1310 eTransport top-up agents around the country and Government has ensured through the Solution Providers that the rural areas are not neglected and 48 new rural agents have been identified and are in operation.

Mr Sayed-Khaiyum further revealed how new jobs have been created either directly or indirectly because of e-Transport. “Madam Speaker, with this Government’s foresight, the e-Ticketing system has also created business opportunities through top up agents in rural areas through a concept of Mobile Village agents. “This has given an opportunity to some micro-entrepreneurs to generate extra income through commission earned on the top-up. “The implementation of e-Ticketing has directly and indirectly created jobs for over 400 people such as software developers, repair technicians and top-up agents.”

He gave further insights in how Fijians are connected with technology.

“As of March 8, there were about 1,267,975 registered mobile phone users with 952,921 active sim cards in Fiji - a country of about less than 900,000 people,” Mr Sayed-Khaiyum said.

“And very soon, people will be able to top-up their cards using M-PAiSA balance on their mobile phone.

“Close to 23,000 households around the country are now able to top-up their prepaid electricity meter using M-PAiSA 24 hours, 7 days a week, without visiting the agent. “The same M-PAISA platform will soon allow people to top up their eTransport card by using their mobile phones. You also do not need a smart phone to use M-PAiSA. “You can access M-PAiSA through any basic mobile phone.

“He further revealed that there were discussions on how people will be able to pay for their bus travels with their smartphones.”