IfG.CC -
Institute for eGovernment

The centre will also benefit all governments in the Middle East.

The centre was inaugurated by Shaikh Ahmed Ateyatalla Al Khalifa, president of the Central Informatics Organisation (CIO), Tom Francese, vice president, IBM Software Group EMEA and Abdulla Ishaq, general manager of Bahrain Business Machines (BBM).

Bahrain’s Information & eGovernment Authority (iGA) will close its Sehla branch which serves foreigner families and investors connected to the Labour Market regulatory Authority (LMRA) on July 30 and shift its services to its main branch in Isa Town.

The step comes in line with the authority’s keenness to improve service delivery for customers, an iGA statement said.

New RERA licensing system will include services for other licensee categories, including developers, property managers and owners’ association managers

A new real estate licensing system and associated eServices have been launched by the Real Estate Regulatory Authority (RERA), in co-operation with the Information and eGovernment Authority (iGA).

Digital transformation is the cornerstone of Bahrain’s economic development. In the next three years, Bahrain is expected to spend $2.1 billion on developing its Information and Communications Technology (ICT) sector. The country has been an early adopter of advanced technologies, enabling widespread digital transformation in its public and private sectors. Empowered by its Vision 2030, the Kingdom is inching closer to its goal of becoming the region’s ICT hub.

By joining the new Digital Cooperation Organisation, Bahrain has reaffirmed its commitment to the development of its digital economy to further empower economic diversification, especially in a post-pandemic world. However, as the Kingdom continues to build its digital economy and implements new and innovative technologies, it also faces sophisticated and complex cybersecurity challenges.

Bahrain is keeping abreast with modern technologies, which play a vital role in supporting the Kingdom’s comprehensive development.

This was emphasised by Finance and National Economy Minister Shaikh Salman bin Khalifa Al Khalifa as he highlighted the intiatives initiated by His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, with the support of His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince and Prime Minister.

Not only is technology causing an impact on economic sectors' performance and activities, but also affecting the manner through which people interact and communicate. And governments are efficiently exploiting this technological advancement via unified platforms that offer public services referred to as e-government portals.

Bahrain has made major steps in this regard. The country ranked 24 th in the UN E-Government Survey 2016 and managed to reserve the first place regionally, a place it has successfully held for four consecutive times since 2010. Bahrain was followed by the UAE (29), Kuwait (40), the KSA (44), Qatar (48), and Oman (66).

It took place during the 18th Waqfi Forum, which was organised by Awqaf Public Foundation, Kuwait, under the patronage of Crown Prince Shaikh Nawaf bin Ahmed Al Sabah.

It was held under the slogan Waqf and Technology... Towards New Horizons.

Bahrain’s eGovernment Authority (eGA) in partnership with CrediMax has announced plans to remodel all 34 eKiosks located at various parts of Bahrain in an aim to introduce state-of-the-art kiosks better suited to the needs of citizens.

The kiosks are expected to be available to the public by September, will ensure a better developed user-experience and seamless payment transactions for eGovernment services made through credit and debit cards, said a statement from the company.

The Kingdom of Bahrain’s online portal (www.bahrain.bh) has been recognised for its achievement in eGovernment by winning the prestigious Arab GoldenChip Award in a ceremony during the MENA ICT Week held in Lebanon under the patronage of His Excellency Michel Suleiman, President of Lebanon.

The Arab Golden Chip Award is organized by the Union of Arab ICT Associations and goes through a 3-stage process. Applications are first collected from every Arab country for the award’s six categories (Best Online Application in Government, Best Online Application in Banking, Best Online Application in Commerce, Best Software Product for Export, Best Hardware Product, and Best Arabic Content Project), finalists are then selected by the award’s judging panel and finalists present in front of the judging panel and attendees.

MEET ICT 2013 will run from December 10 to 12 at the Bahrain International Exhibition and Convention Centre under the patronage of Kamal bin Ahmed Mohammed, Minister of Transportation.

Bahrain’s ICT Governance Committee (ICTGC) showcased BD3 million ($7.9 million) worth of IT projects which were studied and reviewed in collaboration with concerned entities at the ICTGC’s recent 21st meeting.

The projects included the transportation licensing system, network infrastructure refreshment, network infrastructure replacement & enhancement along with other projects.

The Information & eGovernment Authority (iGA) presented an overview of the Electronic Know Your Customer (eKYC) project during a panel discussion at the 4th Bahrain Smart Cities Summit, held as part of Bahrain Tech Week 2019.

The event was held under the patronage of Essam bin Abdullah Khalaf, Minister of Works, Municipalities Affairs & Urban Planning, on September 15 and 16 with the participation of a number of government entities and private sector companies.

Bahrain’s Information & eGovernment Authority (iGA) is hosting a forum aimed at studying the Digital transformation plans of Bahrain government entities for the year 2022.

Led by Chief Executive Mohammed Ali Al Qaed, the event, which seeks to implement high level directives to accelerate the pace of Digital Transformation, is being held from November 1 to 4 at the iGA’s premises in Muharraq with the participation of Undersecretaries, Asst. Undersecretaries and senior officials representing 28 government entities.

In the most recent Global IT Report by World Economic Forum, published in April 2012, Bahrain was ranked the fourth in the world for “Government Usage of ICT”, which recognised not only the government’s commitment to ICT, but also the outcomes achieved.

The Information & eGovernment Authority (iGA) of Bahrain has teamed up with global technology leader Thales to comprehensively overhaul the country's ID card system, particularly the Central Population Registry (CPR) card.

This strategic move aligns with the directives of Shaikh Rashid Al Khalifa, Minister of Interior and Chairman of the Ministerial Committee for Information and Communication Technology (MCICT), aimed at advancing the Kingdom of Bahrain's digital infrastructure.

The action is part of the ministry’s efforts to provide better services and strengthen partnerships with the private sector, officials announced.

Eight well-trained Bahraini nationals will be available at the centre around the clock to offer a wide range of tourism information and services in both Arabic and English, according to a statement received here.

TCG-ME won the award for their product - Bahrain Commerce Ministry Portal for Electronic Services.

In line with the directives of His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince, Deputy Supreme Commander and First Deputy Prime Minister, to provide more facilities to Gulf Cooperation (GCC) residents and investors in Bahrain when conducting their transactions at various service departments, the Information and eGovernment Authority (IGA) Chief Executive Mohammed Ali AlQaed stated that it is now possible for GCC citizens, residents and investors in the Kingdom of Bahrain to issue a Bahraini identity card.

The Chief Executive confirmed that this procedure reflects the strengthening of ties and relations with neighboring countries, and provides the opportunity to attract GCC investments and inter-exchanges.

Move aims to provide more facilities to GCC residents, investors

Bahraini identity cards will be issued for Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) nationals and investors living in the kingdom.

“The measure is endorsed on every GCC resident or investor whose residency exceeded six months during the previous year from the date of entering the Kingdom and who has an authenticated, officially recognised address,” Information and eGovernment Authority (IGA) Chief Executive Mohammad Al Qaed said.