Mauritius: The Electronic Document Management System (E-DMS), a project being implemented within the Government’s vision for public service digital transformation strategy and to enhance efficiency in document management, was launched by the Minister of Public Service, Administrative and Institutional Reforms, Teeruthraj Hurdoyal, this morning, at The Westin Turtle Bay Resort in Balaclava.
The Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Japan, Shuichiro Kawaguchi; the Resident Representative of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) for Mauritius and Seychelles, Amanda Serumaga; the Secretary for Public Service, Koosiram Conhye; Officers-in-charge of Ministries and public Departments; and other personalities were also present at the event.
In his allocution, the Public Service Minister stressed that the launch of the E-DMS marked a turning point in the journey towards a more efficient, transparent, and citizen-centric government.
“The project aims to streamline registry processes, improve accessibility, ensure secure and centralized storage on a digital platform of official files and allow for seamless storage, retrieval, and sharing of information across ministries and departments,” he stated.
According to Hurdoyal, the System, being implemented on a pilot basis at the level of the Ministry of Public Service, Administrative and Institutional Reforms, offered numerous benefits, including increased efficiency, improved collaboration, enhanced document security, regulatory compliance, cost reduction, and the ability to maintain business continuity through disaster recovery measures.
He underlined that in light of lessons learnt following the COVID-19 pandemic, it is imperative to modernize local systems and leverage technology to introduce landmark projects that would streamline operations, enhance efficiency, and improve service delivery to citizens.
The Minister also thanked the UNDP and the Government of Japan for their support for the E-DMS in Mauritius. “The assistance provided by the UNDP under the Japan Supplementary Budget has been instrumental in implementing this transformative project, and we are immensely grateful for their belief in our vision to implement digital transformation projects in our public service,” he said.
Moreover, Hurdoyal was adamant that a cultural shift, where all stakeholders embrace the digital transformation and adapt their mindset and workflows accordingly, was required. He also spoke of the importance of equipping public officers with the necessary skills and knowledge through comprehensive training and support to maximize the potential of the E-DMS.
Furthermore, Minister Hurdoyal listed other projects and programmes underway and geared towards transforming the public service. These comprise the Human Resource Management System (eHR) to digitalize the core functionalities of Human Resource Management, the Sandbox Framework to promote the adoption of innovative technologies, and the online scheme of service platform for the process and prescription of scheme of service in a timelier manner.
For his part, the Japanese Ambassador stated that Japan was proud to be a close partner of Mauritius and be part of the country’s successful and speedy economic recovery post-COVID-19 pandemic.
He pointed out that the Government of Japan had considered the needs of Mauritius and mobilized a supplementary budget for the project ‘Supporting an Inclusive and Multi-Sectoral Response to COVID-19 and Addressing its Socio-economic Impact in the Republic of Mauritius through the UNDP.
“This assistance represents another positive development in the longstanding and dynamic relationship between our countries,” affirmed Shuichiro Kawaguchi.
As for the UNDP Representative for Mauritius and Seychelles, she believed that the Ministry of Public Service was the backbone of any efficient public sector. She recalled the essential role played by public health officials and other public workers in safeguarding communities during the COVID-19 pandemic and highlighted the needs expressed by these public officials for support and the adoption of modern collaboration methods aligned with the data protection act and the online transaction act.
Amanda Serumaga thus welcomed the implementation of a comprehensive and flexible E-DMS, which, she deemed, a vital step towards establishing a paperless government.
It is noted that a workshop demonstrating the functionalities of the E-DMS was held after the launching ceremony.