Bahrain showcases its experience in ministerial roundtable discussion

The speech, performed during a ministerial panel discussion, was held within the activities of the Government Summit 2013 hosted by the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

The eGovernment Authority (eGA) participation in the Government Summit from the Kingdom's keenness to consolidate its presence in regional and international forums, and to review its pioneering expertise in the field of eGovernment. It is the first time that UAE organizes such event, which was held February 11th - 12th, 2013; under the patronage of His Highness Shaikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum - UAE Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai.

Entitled 'Leadership in Government Service', the summit was attended by more than 2,000 of governmental service pioneers in the Arab world and the globe. It focused on the means to develop government work and governmental service systems, provide the best of such services to achieve the well-being and comfort of citizens as well as live-up to their ambitions and aspirations.

The summit hosted several speakers from various countries around the world and specialized research centers in government development. It also reviewed several leading governmental expertise from Canada, Australia, South Korea and Brazil. Moreover, it discussed key future developments in the field of development of governmental services.

"We in the eGovernment Authority, as a governmental service body, are absolutely convinced that what marks success of our strategy is to reach to the most valuable and important element of our assets, namely the general public, which includes citizens and residents, business sector as well as visitors to our country. We have been keen to maintain excellence as a central component of the main objectives of the eGovernment National Strategy 2016 by encouraging greater innovation and entrepreneurship," stated Al Qaed.

He also pointed out that eGovernment is dedicated to encouraging the participation of citizens through its commitment to fund their new creative ideas, and converting their projects into concrete initiatives that can be implemented and launched in the field of eGovernment.

"Among the other means that we have adopted to encourage the participation of the various stakeholders (government, citizens and non-governmental organizations) in the Kingdom, the eGovernment Authority has launched the Excellence Award which recognizes and rewards creative and innovative projects based on the selection and evaluation of an international jury for each category on an annual basis. Such initiative has contributed to encouraging the spirit of competition and drive innovation at the national level," added Al Qaed.

"Bahrain is highly committed to fulfill its international obligations represented in promoting ICT, eGovernment and innovation in public administration. I call upon the experts and participants in the Government Summit and all UN member states to participate in the distribution of UN Public Service Awards, which will be hosted by the Kingdom in June this year to celebrate excellence and innovation in the field of public administration," said Al Qaed.

Other speakers in the meeting included Minister of Public Works for UAE H.E. Shaikh Hamdan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, Moroccan minister delegate to the Prime Minister in Charge of Public Service and Administration Modernization Abdul Azim Karouj, Minister of Public Service and Administration of the Republic of South Africa H.E. Lindiwe Nonceba Sisulu, and United Nations Department of Economic & Social Affairs (UNDESA) Chief of eGovernment Branch Mr. Vincenzo Aquaro who reviewed their expertise in improving efficiency and quality of services and means to provide such services to meet the needs of citizens.