This was the main message of the 11th session of the Arab Thought Foundation (FIKR11) Conference. The opening session, on Monday, was held under the patronage and in the presence of His Highness Shaikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai at Grand Hyatt Hotel, Dubai.
The event, themed, ‘Citizens and Government: Future Vision’, saw the attendance of Shaikh Maktoum bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai; Abdulla Al Shaibani, Secretary General of the Dubai Executive Council as well as ministers, senior officials and prominent intellectual and cultural figures from the UAE and the Arab World.
In his speech, the Secretary General of the Arab Thought Foundation, Dr Soleiman Abdel Moneim, said the annual function stresses the importance of holding such an event in an Emirate that has lead the way towards eGovernment.
Prince Khalid Al Faisal, Chairman of the Arab Thought Foundation, congratulated the leadership of the UAE and its people, on the occasion of the 41st National Day.
Al Faisal, who is also Governor of Makkah Province, highlighted the true spirit of Arabia that dwells deep within Shaikh Mohammed and his vision that turned the Emirate of Dubai into an international cosmopolitan city: “This very title (Citizens and Government: A Future Vision) is today’s and tomorrow’s dilemma, due to various international changes.”
The event was also attended by Prince Turki Al Faisal; Prince Bandar bin Khalid Al Faisal, Chairman of the Steering Committee, FIKR Conferences; a number of Shaikhs, Princes, ministers and heads and directors of departments and institutions.
Salem Al Suwaidi, Deputy Director General for Information and eGovernment Sector, Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA), shared the eGovernment experience in the UAE, describing it as the exclusive experience in the Arab world, and the first eGovernment in the region.
According to the approved Federal Strategy 2014, the number of Emiratis to which eGovernment services will be on offer will increase from 500 to 1,000 by the first half of 2013. “This is a major milestone in the process of eTransformation of the federal government.” Al Suwaidi said.
He said the ultimate objective of the Emirates eGovernment initiative is to provide government services through innovative channels in a timely and cost effective manner. “This will raise the UAE’s profile globally in terms of innovation at the government level while improving the lives of its people.”
Al Suwaidi said the official portals of Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah, Ajman and Fujairah and Ras Al Khaimah have been streamlined to bring the services and information of the respective government entities under one umbrella.
Mohammad A Al Ali, Senior Vice-President of Finance at Saudi Aramco, focused on the economic and social issues that join citizens and Governments.
The afternoon sessions: “The Arab world in 2020: Development and Future of Governments” stressed the necessity of governments in acquiring the latest techniques in improving the governmental work and the ways in which they communicate with their citizens, in addition to creating effective partnerships within the private sector and the wider society.
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Autor(en)/Author(s): Ahmed Shaaban
Quelle/Source: Khaleej Times, 27.11.2012
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