E-Government refers to the use by Government agencies of information technologies (such as Wide Area Networks, the Internet and mobile computing) to transform relations with citizens, businesses, visitors and Government, for:

• enhanced delivery of Government services to citizens;
• improved interactions with the business community;
• citizen empowerment through access to information; and
• more efficient Government administration

The objectives of the Government Portal are to:

• provide round-the-clock online Government information and services through a single window;
• give the users the choice to decide when, from where and how they want to interact with the Government;
• eliminate administrative bottlenecks, thus reducing the turn-around time in the provision of most Government services;
• bring the people closer to the Government by keeping them abreast of the latest developments in the public sector, thus encouraging them to play a proactive role in the decision-making process of the Government;
• provide a simple, secure and trustworthy interface for accessing Government services and conducting online transactions;
• modernise the public sector; and
• create a digital community. 

The Government Portal offers citizens significant benefits by:

• providing round-the-clock online Government information and services through a single window;
• allowing for greater flexibility and convenience while dealing with Government departments and agencies, through online access of services;
• reducing the turn-around time in the provision of Government services;
• keeping citizens abreast of the latest developments in the public sector; and
• encouraging citizens to play a proactive role in the decision-making process of the Government.

The Government Portal benefits businesses by:

• providing a gateway for the development of mutually beneficial interactions between the Government and businesses;
• eliminating the administrative procedures when dealing with the Government, thus resulting in considerable time and costs savings for the businesses; and
• providing a secure and trustworthy environment for conducting online transactions with the Government.

The Government Portal helps to improve the flow of information and enhances communication between the different Government departments. This gives rise to significant improvements in the coordination of public sector resources, better analytical tools to solve the increasingly complex problems faced by Government and decision support tools to enhance the effectiveness and efficiency of public policy.