Egypt Tests a Smartphone App to Bring Consular Services to Citizens Abroad

Egyptians living overseas who have long queued at embassies to renew documents now can use an smartphone application to initiate consular transactions and track their progress. Egypt’s Foreign Ministry said on Wednesday, 21 October, that it had began testing an app called “Masri Bel Kharig,” or Egyptian Abroad, began, and it lets users start consular transactions and follow each stage until the paperwork is complete. The app is available through the App Store and Google Play. The pilot covers 17 diplomatic and consular missions, including Prague, Rabat, Manama, Berlin, Doha, Pretoria, Rome, Abu Dhabi and Brussels, along with consulates in Houston, Hamburg, Los Angeles, Frankfurt, Chicago, Marseille, Sydney and Melbourne. The cabinet said more missions would be added in the coming period. The ministry said more services would follow in the next phase, along with an artificial intelligence assistant to answer questions and explain procedures. It described the effort as a response to presidential directives to improve services for Egyptians abroad, and as part of a wider push to digitize government work. The app is also meant to connect with other state digital platforms. In August, Egypt introduced an interactiveContinue reading "Egypt Tests a Smartphone App to Bring Consular Services to Citizens Abroad" The post Egypt Tests a Smartphone App to Bring Consular Services to Citizens Abroad first appeared on Egyptian Streets.