Opaz to end paper transactions by June end

Muscat: The Public Authority for Special Economic Zones and Free Zones (Opaz) has set June 30, 2023, as the last day for receiving and sending paper transactions. This endeavour comes as part to complete its plan towards digital transformation.

It, further, reflects Opaz's tireless environment-friendly efforts and initiatives, including its 'Paperless' campaign, which aims at reducing the use of paper and having an environmentally friendly workplace. On the other hand, it serves to accelerate the pace of digital transformation, as this campaign will contribute to automating the services and transactions provided by Opaz and its affiliated zones to investors; thus, discontinuing paper transactions.

Reflecting on its digital transformation plan, Opaz stopped printing and receiving all paper transactions and documents at the one-stop station in the Special Economic Zone at Duqm last year, replaced employee's paper business cards with the Near Field Communication (NFC) feature in the employee’s ID card and introduced electronic alternatives to transfer and share files, documents and transactions between employees instead of using printed copies. Opaz implemented the use of an internal online portal for employees, a File Cloud platform for data storage, issuing the Cadastral Drawing (Krooki) electronically for investors, as well as activating the document management system and electronic documents (Wusool).

In this regard, Adil bin Saif Al Raqadi, IT Manager at the Public Authority for Special Economic Zones and Free Zones, stated that by end of June 2023, Opaz will stop receiving paper transactions, accept for some transactions with private entities and others of classified mails to and from government bodies.

“The Paperless campaign translates Opaz's efforts and its interest to achieve one of the key objectives of Oman Vision 2040 towards digitalising the transactions and services provided to investors and beneficiaries, as well as adopting this transformation in our day-to-day activities, especially at the workplace. This has been mirrored in using electronic alternatives and digital platforms instead of printing on paper. In order to achieve this direction, the campaign included setting a printing policy for Opaz employees, which aims to promote the culture of limiting printing on paper through the control of printing practices and reliance on digital platforms for the interactions between employees and those dealing with Opaz,” he explained.