Jeddah Chamber of Commerce and Industry (JCCI) recently launched an E-Authentication & Certification Service in cooperation with House of Development (HOD), a software and document security solutions company based in Jeddah Saudi Arabia. The new electronic authentication and certification system will be integrated with “Yesser,” the e-Government Program in Saudi Arabia.
Globally several Governments are adopting e-Governance, so as to establish a secure mechanism to receive electronically certified documents and authorizations and make it easier, safer and faster for public officials to validate documents and e-signatures.
The new system was launched as part of the process of developing e-government applications in Saudi Arabia. It was facilitated by Council of Saudi Chambers of Commerce and Industry (CSCCI) request to incorporate the new system in Yesser programs.
Engineer Mohammed Geoffrey, CEO, HOD, said “The new digital service will allow JCCI members to use an easy and well-secured authentication process for verifying official documents and signatories. The service also protects authenticated documents from fraud and misrepresentation and protects the interests of businesspeople and chamber members who will get the required services quickly and in full confidentially.”
Geoffrey further added, “Yesser is an e-government program keenly followed by King Abdullah Bin Abdul Aziz, Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, who is appreciative of its significant benefits to the national economy. HOD has used the latest technology to develop integrated solutions that show real time for signature authentication, hence giving subscribing companies and other establishments in Saudi Arabia the opportunity to conveniently and securely authenticate their documents.”
HOD has procured patents in the GCC, the EU, USA and China in order to protect its products. The CEO expects demand for the e-authentication system to increase in view of the Saudi government policy of adopting more electronic transaction applications.
Engineer Mohammed explained that under the system, an authorized user in a JCCI member-company can verify his Dynamic Signature, which demonstrates legally the user intent, in a very secure environment. These electronically enrolled signatures are used to approve sensitive certified legal documents over the internet. These certified documents can be sent to the party concerned by email or stored in the database of the party concerned. The user can also simply download the certified document from the internet to their USB memory stick.
The new e-authentication & certification (Tasdeeq) service also cuts transportation and courier costs as well as time spent in waiting at certification offices. At JCCI in particular, it will reduce crowding and ensure quick and easy, around-the-clock services
To make use of this service, a company must register its particulars in and provide information about its signatories to the website of Tasdeeq service. Also required is a certified document from the Chamber of Commerce that he/they is/are the authorized signatory/signatories of a JCCI member company. Three electronic signatures of each signatory are then entered into the system, using the signature pad and electronic pen.