The General Arab Insurance Federation (GAIF) is working on setting up electronic links for its Orange Card motor insurance facility, to smoothen vehicle travel between Arab states, said Mr Chakib Abouzaid, secretary general of the federation.
He said, “For example, there are millions of cars crossing the border between Libya and Tunisia. When everything is automated, it will make life easier for people.”
With the electronic link, motorists will be able to connect with the border police, so that they will have ready their electronic Orange Card proof of insurance, which will reduce border crossing time.
GAIF is in charge of managing the issue of the Orange Card at the regional level. The card represents proof of motor TPL insurance valid for motoring across Arab borders.
The unified insurance card system was established through an international convention signed in Tunisia in 1975. The Orange Card system aims to encourage tourism, facilitate trade and vehicle movements between Arab countries. A Regional Unified Bureau has been established in 14 GAIF member countries.
Mr Abouzaid said, “We are responsible for coordination between countries. When there is a conflict between two bureaux, we intervene to facilitate payment and card issuance.”
GAIF member countries are also upgrading the Orange Card system at the local level. For instance, in May, the Omani Unified Bureau for the Orange Card (OUBOC) signed an agreement to upgrade its service for the issue of orange cards on a real-time basis. The card is mandatory for the sultanate’s vehicles crossing Omani borders.
The move is one step forward towards the digitisation of the Orange Card system in the country.
“This is phase one of the project. Once this project is completed, the next level will be a similar linkage with all the unified offices in 14 Arab countries under the aegis of GAIF for which planning is in progress,” Mr Philip K Philip, chairman OUBOC, told Muscat Daily. M