The launch of electronic signature service for contracts to sell and purchase vehicles was announced by Minister of Communication Technologies, Nizar Ben Néji at a press conference held at the Kasbah Government Palace on Tuesday.
The Minister underlined that the launch of this service through the citizen's portal and using the mobile identity is part of the national digitisation strategy and the major reform plan adopted by the government in the areas of administrative modernisation and digital transformation.
The new service makes it possible to gradually abandon the use of paper in processing contracts for the transfer of ownership of vehicles, without relying on the legalisation of signature, while adopting electronic alternatives, such as electronic exchange, electronic signature and visible electronic seals.
This measure also aims to consolidate the digital transformation process, by offering a platform destined to upgrade several services likely to simplify and facilitate citizens' daily lives.
This is the first electronic contractual service recognised by the Tunisian administration, the minister pointed out, adding that these contracts signed online between the seller and the buyer include electronic documents and have the same legal value as paper contracts.
Ben Néji clarified that this service primarily concerns natural persons and will gradually include other users.
To access this service, it is necessary to check the citizen's portal and follow some procedures to be made by the seller and the buyer in the area dedicated to them to produce the draft contract signed electronically by both parties. The contract will then be sent automatically to the Technical Agency of Land Transport (ATTT).
The new service created is part of a partnership between the Ministries of Communication Technology and Transport. It will be free of charge during the first year and then will be offered at a symbolic price, the minister pointed out.
This service does not concern Tunisians abroad, given that the digital identity is linked to a telephone line which must go back to a local supplier.
Ben Néji stressed that all necessary measures were taken to protect personal data, recalling that the Tunisian law has recognised the electronic contract since 2000 yet the service has become operational only recently.