ID :
498869
Sat, 07/21/2018 - 03:45
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Bahrain among high performing countries in e-government services

Manama, July 20 (BNA): Bahrain ranked fifth in Asia and 26th internationally in e-government development efforts, a UN report has revealed. According to the 2018 UN E-Government Survey, Bahrain maintained its ranking among countries scoring very high on the E-Government Development Index (EGDI), Only two Arab countries, Bahrain and the UAE, were among the eight Asian states which ranked among the high performing countries. Only 40 countries in the world scored high in the EGDI index, which measures e-government services in 193 countries. The report also showed that Bahrain has made a quantum leap in the telecommunication infrastructure index, ranking fourth in the world, thus moving up seven posts compared with the 2016 survey. Chief Executive Officer of the Information and e-Government Authority (iGA), Mohammed Ali Al-Qaed, commended the efforts of the Ministry of Transportation and Telecommunications and the Telecommunciations Regulatory Authority (TRA), as well as those of their staff, which played a major role in the kingdom’s honourable achievement, citing their launch of the fifth generation networks and their overall efforts to develop the sector through the implementation of the fourth National Telecommunications Plan. Al-Qaed stressed that cooperation with all government departments would continue in order to raise the kingdom’s name at various regional and global gatherings. He extended sincere thanks to His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, His Royal Highness Prime Minister Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa and His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince, Deputy Supreme Commander and First Deputy Premier, for their special interest in the information and communication technology (ICT) sector, noting that their sound directives have contributed effectively to the kingdom’s attaining such an exploit. He also paid tribute to the High Committee for Information and Communication Technology, led by Deputy Premier, HH Shaikh Mohammed bin Mubarak Al Khalifa, for its constant keenness on ensuring that ICT is used in a way that serves the citizens first and foremost. Al-Qaed extended thanks to all government sides thanks to whose distinguished efforts the kingdom ranked among high performing countries in the EGDI. He thanked the government departments whose websites were measured, including the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Health, the Labour and Social Development Ministry, the Finance Ministry, the Supreme Council for Environment and the Information Affairs Ministry, in addition to the Ministry of Works, Municipalities Affairs and Urban Planning, whose website was also measured for the first time in line with the world trend towards smart cities. The survey focused on the sustainable development goals through assessing the technologies used by the 193 countries to achieve them. The survey was issued by the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN DESA) to measure countries’ efforts to improve e-government and to provide public services online. EGDI measures countries’ use of information and communications technologies to deliver public services. The Index captures the scope and quality of online services, status of telecommunication infrastructure and existing human capacity.

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