The Kingdom of Bahrain maintains ongoing collaboration with Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries in developing the GCC eGovernment strategy, following a regularly monitored implementation plan. The Kingdom plays an active role as a member of the GCC eGovernment Executive Committee, fostering cooperation across multiple sectors and leadership levels. To implement agreed-upon strategies, several committees have been formed, from Ministerial Level, Chief Executive, Governance, Directors to Project Teams to work on a specific Initiatives. Results are discussed in council meetings as needed. GCC countries collaborate to enhance national and regional statistics through the GCC Statistics Committee, which includes members from relevant statistical organizations.
Bahrain’s digital strategy is fully aligned with the GCC eGovernment strategy, which has progressed through three implementation phases. The strategy includes several annual initiatives that adapt to global developments. Bahrain has contributed numerous initiatives to the GCC, such as a governance model for strategy implementation, the creation of the GCC eGovernment Award, and a model for model for measuring eGovernment guiding strategy implementation. The strategy also includes initiatives developed by other member states, such as a periodic report on eGovernment achievements, the provision of electronic services through multiple channels, and improving the quality of Arabic content available online.
As part of shared efforts to exchange expertise and technology, and to implement innovative solutions and cloud computing in support of digital transformation, Bahrain hosted a delegation from Kuwait Petroleum Corporation. The delegation was invited to explore Bahrain’s pioneering experience in adopting a cloud-first approach at the government level. During their visit, Bahrain’s success in cloud computing was highlighted, including security measures that ensure information security, the establishment of a secure environment, and governance principles and regulations that support cloud transformation.
In line with Bahrain’s vision to support digital transformation projects and meet the needs of citizens, residents, and businesses, the Information & eGovernment Authority (iGA) has strengthened its cooperation with Saudi Arabia's Digital Government Authority. Technical working groups have been formed to discuss joint projects aimed at enhancing the ICT sector. This collaboration focuses on exchanging successful digital experiences and advanced technological initiatives, ultimately improving the efficiency and quality of government services.
The Kingdom of Bahrain represented by the Information & eGovernment Authority collaborates with the Statistical Centre for the Cooperation Council for the Arab Countries of the Gulf (GCC-Stat) to leverage the power of statistical information to support decision making, research and dialogue within the kingdom and withing other GCC countries. Bahrain is a member of the GCC-STAT joint specialized teams in the fields of Education, GIS, Economy, CPI, International Trade, Foreign Investment, Labour, health, Energy, and statistical work.
The Kingdom of Bahrain hosted a workshop in cooperation with GCC-STAT to develop labour statistics in Bahrain. The workshop discussed the GCC strategies and policies of labour statistics, administrative records as a source of labour statistics and the key types of administrative records used in labour statistics in the International Labour Organization (ILO) and the Gulf Cooperation Council.
The Kingdom also hosted the eighth meeting of the working group concerned with monitoring the positions and efforts of the GCC countries to achieve the fourth sustainable Development Goal. Bahrain also participated in GCC-STAT meetings related to:
Bahrain is an active player in international and regional partnerships in the fields of eGovernment and digital technologies, being a founding member of the Digital Cooperation Organization (DCO), which includes Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Jordan, and Pakistan. The DCO focuses on fostering digital cooperation, empowering women, youth, and entrepreneurs, and driving growth in the digital economy and innovation. Bahrain has also collaborated with the Istanbul Development Agency to facilitate the launch of Bahraini startups in Turkey and Turkish companies in the Kingdom of Bahrain. In addition, Bahrain partnered with Kerala Startup Mission in India to promote cooperation in fields such as artificial intelligence (AI), fintech, and other emerging technologies.
To enhance knowledge exchange and promote digital transformation, The Kingdom of Bahrain hosted a delegation from Slovakia’s Spatial Planning and Urban Development Authority. The visit provided the delegation with insight into Bahrain’s digital transformation journey and the key national systems that have contributed to the integration of government processes. These systems include the Building Permit Portal (Benayat), the Urban Planning Services Portal (Planning), and the Commercial Registration System (Sijilat), along with the AlTajer app, which provides investors with a unified platform to complete essential transactions with various government entities. The delegation was also introduced to Bahrain’s Open Data Portal, developed according to global best practices and UN standards for open data.
In 2019, Bahrain hosted a delegation from Turkmenistan’s Ministry of Industry and Communication to share its experiences and expand cooperation in eGovernment. The visit was part of a memorandum of understanding signed between Bahrain and Turkmenistan aimed at enhancing collaboration in this area. The delegation was briefed on Bahrain’s national eGovernment strategy and its role in promoting the use of advanced technology in the public sector, improving service quality, and increasing customer satisfaction. They also explored Bahrain’s national systems, the National Suggestion and Complaints System (Tawasul), and the country’s cloud computing transformation efforts. The visit highlighted Bahrain’s achievements in information security, wireless communication, and statistics, along with its performance in the UN eGovernment report.
As part of Bahrain’s efforts to advance the ICT sector, the iGA signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency (KOTRA). This agreement supports ICT sector development, capacity building, and attracting investments to Bahrain through the exchange of expertise, visits, and knowledge of the latest projects and technological solutions in ICT and eServices. The Information & eGovernment Authority (iGA) keeps KOTRA updated on current projects, tenders, and investment opportunities related to ICT and eServices initiatives. In turn, KOTRA connects with Korean companies and investors to present these opportunities in Bahrain.
The Information & eGovernment Authority (iGA) has also signed an agreement in the field of science and technology with the International Cooperation Network for Science and Technology (European Union-GCC). This collaboration led to the participation of a large EU delegation, including about 30 commission experts, in the Bahrain International eGovernment Forum in 2015. The delegation conducted a workshop on EU Vision 2020, presenting the initiative as the largest research and innovation funding program, with €80 billion allocated over seven years from 2014 to 2020. The program’s expansion has made it open to participants worldwide, offering opportunities regardless of location.
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Content Last Updated: 25 Sep, 2024
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