H.E. Mohammed Ali Al Shorafa, Chairman of Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development (ADDED) declared that the Department has effectively carried out 100 per cent digital transformation of all its services, aimed at customers, businessmen, investors, consumers, suppliers and employees.

On the heels of the Digital Month campaign launched by the Abu Dhabi Government Media Office (ADGMO), His Excellency declared that ADDED recorded high rates of online transactions in the past year via the Departments website and other digital channels. He stated that 119,528 business and industrial licensing transactions have been recorded from the beginning of 2019 till February 2020.

His Excellency explained that the promotional campaigns about the Departments online services in the course of the Digital Month are designed to motivate both clients and partners to use online services that are available through www.added.gov.ae. The campaigns additionally create awareness about the services provided via the TAMM website www.tamm.abudhabi, thereby saving clients and partners both time and effort by casting off the need to contact client centers for transactions.

H.E. Al Shorafa stated that in accordance to statistics, majority of the transactions carried out via the customer service center at the Abu Dhabi Business Center (ADBC) of ADDED covered the issuance and renewal of monetary licenses, permits, declarations and customs exemption transactions for the industrial sector, in addition to payment of fees. All of these services are available online now via the Department's website and can be carried out remotely, he added.

H.E. Al Shorafa urged the Departments clients to take benefit of the digital initiatives and services that are being provided in line with the Abu Dhabi Governments vision towards attaining digital transformation of all government services.

His Excellency mentioned that the Department is constantly working to improve and provide online services and come up with new digital initiatives to deliver its services in an effortless and efficient manner, via steady technology adoption and integration. For instance, the Instant license procedure can be electronically issued within four minutes.

The Chairman similarly explained that the statistics on the economic activity transactions in regard to licensing business and industrial activities point out that 73,968 transactions have been carried out directly from the client service center since the beginning of year 2019 till the end of February 2020. These included issuance and renewal of business and industrial licenses, in addition to customs exemption procedures and payment of fees, advertisements and permits.

H.E. the Chairmsn called on all clients to take benefit of the Departments online services and conduct transactions by submitting applications online via its website or the Tamm Center website. These services will save them time, effort and costs while additionally making sure that they are provided with the same efficiency. Such services are highly relevant following the implementation of the remote working system for a number of ADBC employees, who are prepared to tend to all requests digitally in record time.

His Excellency praised the Digital Month campaign launched by ADGMO, promoting government entities concerned in the delivery of services to clients and the public and highlighting their services in order to create more awareness on the significance of conducting remote transactions.