Deputy premier chairs ICT committee meeting

Manama, June 8 (BNA): The Supreme Committee for Information and Communication Technology convened at the Gudaibiya Palace today under the chairmanship of Deputy Premier HH Shaikh Mohammed bin Mubarak Al Khalifa. The panel discussed the activation of the joint e-mail service for government departments. The service is overseen by a specialised work team, and aims to reduce expenses, enhance information security and ensure larger storage capacity. The committee also approved the "electronic verification" service through identity cards and fingerprints. The service will be provided for the public and private sectors for the aim of delivering new direct services for the beneficiaries, increasing the level of cyber security and reducing the operational costs. Enabling users to complete their transactions directly and timely through self-service machines and without the need to visit the branches of the service providers, the service saves times, efforts and costs on beneficiaries, reduces crowds and waiting time at branches, and fast-tracks transactions. The panel was informed about the main decisions taken by the Frequency Spectrum Strategy and Coordination Committee which was formed last year, under the chairmanship of the Informatics and e-Government Authority Chairman, with a mandate to coordinate the requirements of the Frequency Spectrum while preparing the National Frequency Plan. Board Chairman of the Silat Al-Khaleej Company Mohammed Ali Al-Qaed gave a presentation about the company’s development. He asserted that Silat Al-Khaleej had succeeded in achieving all the performance indicators it had announced when it was founded. He explained that it had 800 employees, 80% of them are Bahrainis. It has also provided the labour market with well-trained 700 employees, he said, noting that it has become among the best 20 companies that create employment for Bahrainis over a record period of six years. The Supreme ICT Committee also reviewed the main strategic projects of the Informatics and e-Government Authority, including the development of e-service platforms, the one-stop shop at customs and ports, the judicial system and the National Complaints and Suggestions System (Tawasul). It also reviewed plans to overhaul the Bahrain Post and the Investor’s Register for government real estates. Deputy Premier and President of the Supreme ICT Committee stressed the need to carry on delivering e-services that revitalize the economy. He also praised the high performance and achievements of the Silat Al-Khaleej Company.