“Within HM King’s pioneering Reform Project, the public service sector has assumed its role in implementing government programmes fully through enhancing performance, achieving excellence and developing mechanisms and goals, including the use of ICT, transparency, responsibility and other incentives and stimulating programmes,” Deputy Premier, Chairman of the Supreme Committee for Information and Communication Technology (SCICT), Shaikh Mohammed bin Mubarak Al Khalifa, told the opening ceremony of the United Nations Public Service Forum 2013.
His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa deputised to the Deputy Premier to attend the opening ceremony of the Forum which attracted over 700 delegates from 90 countries.
The Deputy Premier conveyed greetings from HM the King to the participants, wishing a happy stay in the kingdom and successful forum.
“The government is keen to provide the quality public services for the citizens, in line with its belief in the UN goals, asserting that the kingdom will embark on a plan to upgrade the performance of state establishments in the coming period, which, he said, requires it to be informed about the successful experiences of other countries,” he said.
He underlined that the Kingdom had recognised the importance of ICT in enhancing government services a long time ago and therefore the e-Government has made landmark strides regarding the number and quality of services provided by e-service platforms in all fields thanks to sound directives of His Royal Highness Prime Minister Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa and backing of His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Crown Prince, Deputy Supreme Commander and First Deputy Premier.
“The Forum provides a platform for participants to exchange views, expertise and successful experiences and discuss ways of promoting advanced government work systems that cope with the fast technological developments witnessed by the world, especially in the field of e-Government in which the kingdom of Bahrain has made quantum leaps and become a regional role model in a record time,” he said.
“The UN Public Service Awards distribution ceremony testified to the world’s interest in public service and keenness to address the challenges it is facing in the economic, social, cultural, health and education fields, congratulating the laureates and lauding their contributions in the service of individuals and societies,” he added.
Later, the Deputy Premier honoured the organisers and sponsors of the event, including the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Culture Ministry, Information Affairs Authority, Economic Development Board, the Foreign Affairs Ministry, the Bahrain Creativity Society and the Project Management Institute (GCC Branch).
He also honoured the event’s partners which are the GCC Secretariat-General, United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (UN-ESCWA), UN Women, the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), GCC e-Government Authority agencies and the Bahrain Institute of Public Administration (BIPA).
Shaikh Mohammed also honored the Forum’s sponsors, including EDB, Gulf AIr, BIC, TRA, ALBA, Interior Ministry, Social Development Ministry, the Shura and representatives Councils, the Central Informatics Organization (CIO), the the Legislation and Legal Opinion Commission, the General Organisation for Youth and Sport (GOYS), LG CNS company, Bapco and Batelco.