Indian embassy in Qatar takes first step to outsource consular services
For visitors to the Indian Embassy in Qatar, long queues and longer waiting times are quite common experiences. However, there seems to be some respite in sight.
Determined to improve things, the embassy will publish a Request for Proposal (RFP) on its website (www.indianembassyqatar.gov.in) to select an ‘adequately experienced company’ to function as a Service Provider for providing visa/passport and other consular services in the country, reported Gulf Times.
Indian ambassador P Kumaran had earlier said that the embassy was looking to outsource its consular services through private agencies in three locations in the country. The proposed locations are likely to be in Al Hilal, Salwa Road or the Industrial Area and Al Khor town.
Although many consular services will be outsourced, certain attestations can still only be done at the embassy.
As per the RFP, the selected company should enter into a combined contract with the Indian embassy to deliver the said services to the customers.
Outsourcing could cost more in the long run and then there's also the issue of security of data