The Coalition Government is developing a national digital plan for Fiji, with e-government as one of its primary pillars to bridge the gap with the private sector.
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Trade, Co-operatives, Small and Medium Enterprises and Communications Manoa Kamikamica said that automation in government processes can address productivity issues. According to Kamikamica, automation enhances transparency and accountability, allowing applicants to track the status of their applications and preventing government officials from using excuses like missing files.
Two key initiatives are underway. The first, an automated system for starting a business, is nearing completion and will enable prospective business owners to submit requests online. The second initiative aims to automate the construction permit process, which is expected to be implemented next year.
Addressing about 20 percent of the ease of doing business issues, Kamikamica explained that the automation process would require applicants to enter information once, which will then be processed by various agencies. This system will eliminate the need to provide multiple copies of documents and reduce the need to visit different agencies.
“You’ll enter it once and you can actually see it being tracked through the process. Each agency will provide updates on their progress, which should hopefully reduce approval times,” Kamikamica said. “If successful, this will transform the country’s services across the board. It’s a long-term process and we are just beginning.”
He emphasized that a clear digital strategy will help prioritize spending and, although it will involve taxpayer money and government investment, it is essential for the future transformation of the Fijian economy.