iGA Racks Up Impressive Digital Scoreboard for Bahrain

TDT | Manama

The Daily Tribune - www.newsofbahrain.com   

Remarkable strides in technology adoption and IT governance were achieved by the Information & eGovernment Authority (iGA) during the first half of 2024. According to CEO Mr Mohamed Ali Al Qaed, these advancements align with the developmental objectives championed by His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa. This progress reflects the ongoing directives from the government, led by His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince and Prime Minister.

Under the guidance of Lt-General HE Shaikh Rashid bin Abdullah Al Khalifa, Minister of Interior and Chairman of the Ministerial Committee for Information and Communication Technology, Bahrain’s digital transformation revealed promising trends. The number of eServices has now surpassed 700, with 89% of government services digitised, leading to a 75% reduction in government costs and a 68% decrease in transaction processing times. This progress is a clear indicator of the government’s vision of advancing digital initiatives to provide high-quality services and enhance user satisfaction.

Digital transactions via the national portal, mobile applications, and other channels reached 4 million, with electronic payments exceeding 374 million Bahraini Dinars. Mobile transactions grew by 20% compared to the same period in 2023, with monthly usage rates exceeding 788,000. Notably, the “Al-Tajer” app saw a 192% rise in payment transactions, while the “eShabab” app experienced a 99% increase in average monthly users.

The iGA introduced 35 new eServices via the national portal, including printing ID card statements with QR codes, death certificate services, and enhanced functionalities within the “Al-Tajer” app. Additionally, 12 national systems were developed, with updates to 124 services, including the second phase of the “Sijilat 3.0” portal, offering new features and services.

The “Tawasul” system was updated, directing over 85,000 cases to various government entities with an impressive 98.5% compliance rate. Furthermore, 81 national initiatives were re-engineered to enhance efficiency, and the quality of services was ensured by evaluating 23 government websites and testing over 800 national systems.

The “Benayat” building permit system introduced new services to speed up transactions, benefiting engineering offices, property owners, and government entities. Additionally, the Geographic Information Systems provided crucial geospatial support, with over 133,000 accesses.

In the operations and governance sector, the iGA reviewed approximately 950 IT-related purchase requests and over 100 strategic IT projects. Notably, the iGA completed a data backup project for 44 government entities within Microsoft 365 cloud services, enhancing data protection.

The advanced eKey system registered approximately 768,000 users, with over 14 million successful logins. Furthermore, the sector linked 20 entities to the data lake, transferred 72 datasets, and launched the Real Estate Information Bank (Aqari), preparing for the launch of the Employment Skills Portal.

Mr Al Qaed acknowledged that these achievements resulted from the concerted efforts of iGA employees and collaboration with government entities. Their collective aim is sustainable digital growth in Bahrain, improving public services for all community sectors.