DigitalFIJI to Revolutionise Way We Access Govt Info, Services
Government’s new mobile app, DigitalFIJI, launched in Suva yesterday, will revolutionise the way we access Government information and service.
Two features were rolled out.
The first is a directory feature that contains contact information of Government departments, entities and personnel as well as for our foreign diplomatic offices.
The second is a feedback system where users can submit their feedback on Government services. They can also attach documents and photos as supportive evidence. It also has a mechanism where users can track the issues that they submitted. Initially, users need an Android phone and internet access. Other platforms such as iOS and Windows will follow but it all depends when apps for those platforms will be released.
It was also noted during the launch that by August more features will be released.
This is a significant development in this digital era, connecting the people to the Government.
As long as you have internet connectivity anywhere in Fiji, you can sit in the comfort of your home or up in the mountains in the interior of the islands, and raise concerns or send applications or tenders direct to the relevant department or ministry.
Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama said the Singapore Government was the obvious choice when it came to find the right partner for the project.
“In Singapore’s own development journey, their Government took technology by the reins, bringing their government services online in an innovative way that gave their citizens a direct line of communication with their government, and made services massively more accessible.” (Full PM’s speech on page 12).
The Attorney-General and Minister for Communications, Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum said the app would revolutionise the way people access information.
eTender Portal
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Economy says in a statement that it is excited to announce that a new electronic tendering (eTender) Portal is now online.
It’s “an easy-to-use online resource that massively streamlines the government tender process, giving registered traders a one-stop shop to view, submit and participate in government tenders.”
“The portal is available at www.tenderlink. COM/ECONOMYfiJI/ “The new online platform has been launched in partnership with Tender Link, a leading eTender provider in the Australasia region.
The launch of the eTender Portal is the latest in a string of achievements to bring greater transparency and accountability to the government tender process and cut down on the time and cost of submitting, reviewing and awarding paper-based tenders.
“Fiji has seen a big spike in government tenders as a result of the unprecedented slate of development projects taking place across the country.
Back in 2010, we centralised government tenders under the Ministry of Economy to improve efficiency and speed up the tender process, and today we’ve taken an even bigger step forward by taking the tender process online for the first time.
So now, whether it be building new schools, purchasing high tech equipment, expanding services, or the important work to adapt our infrastructure to climate change, we now have an online tender system that gives Fijians a new level of transparency in the tender process, which safeguards against corruption, and that has the flexibility and efficiency we need to support the massive new development this Government is delivering for Fiji and the Fijian people,” said the Attorney-General and Minister for Economy Aiyaz SayedKhaiyum.
What are the benefits of the etender Portal?
Under the new E-Tender System, Registered Traders can:
• View initiations for tender, expressions of interest and request quotations;
• Receive e-mail notifications of new opportunities published by the Ministry of Economy; • Download and view all relevant documentation for new tenders, EOIs, and quotations;
• Participate in questions and answer forums on the tender process; and
• Submit electronic bid responses directly online through our secure, e-tender box facility.
How do Traders Register?
• Suppliers and traders can register for the eTender Portal at www.tenderlink.com/
ECONOMYfiJI/ and can then immediately view, and submit tenders through the portal.
• The use of the portal is completely free of charge. EDItED By RANOBA BAOA