Going digital in COVID-19 times

Muscat: Government bodies in Oman have set up digital services for people to reach out to them, so that they can avoid physically coming to these places, and bring down the rate of COVID-19 infection in the country.
Judicial courts in Oman will soon go digital, after a circular issued on 15 July by Dr Khalifa bin Mohammad Al Hadrami, Secretary-General of the Judicial Administrative Affairs Council, said people didn’t need to come to the courts, as everything could be managed electronically during the time of the pandemic.
Oman’s Ministry of Commerce and Industry has also asked people to submit their relevant documents and enquiries through email, instead of approaching them in person, and the Special Economic Zone Authority of Duqm (SEZAD) has requested its customers to reach out to them through its digital channels.
"Dr. Khalifa bin Mohammad Al Hadrami, Secretary General of the Judicial Administrative Affairs Council, issued a circular for everyone’s attention that all the services for the litigants will be available electronically from August 2, 2020,” said a statement from the organisation.
“Therefore, people will not be received in the courts of judicial services.”
Adding to this the Ministry of Commerce and Industry said: “As part of the framework to facilitate the provision of requests and document submissions electronically, between the ministry, government and private bodies and individuals, and as part of the commitment towards these precautionary measures to stop the spread of COVID-19, we would like to draw everyone’s attention to the necessity of sending them via email, according to relevance. We will also receive all queries of investors sent through the ministry’s social media accounts.”
SEZAD, responsible to administer and bring investment into the special economic zone in Duqm (SEZD), has also set up three channels – a website, an email address, and a WhatsApp account – specifically for investors to reach out to them electronically. Located in the central Wusta Governorate, Duqm is expected to contribute much of Oman’s non-oil revenue in the years to come.
“In compliance with the decisions of Supreme Committee and adhering to precautionary measures to combat Coronavirus, SEZAD has introduced digital solutions to customers & investors,” said a statement from the authority.
Investors can visit the website dedicated for this purpose at http://eoss.duqm.gov.om, email SEZAD on [email protected], or send them a WhatsApp message on +968 7114-4433.