As part of its objectives in supporting networks of cooperation and exchange of experience between the GCC countries, the Kingdom of Bahrain represented by the eGovernment Authority (eGA) hosted the 11th meeting of the GCC eGovernment Committee on 16th and 17th January, 2013.
Minister of Transportation Kamal bin Ahmed Mohammed and Heads of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) eGovernment Authorities took part in the meeting to discuss the report of the Secretariat General that was presented to the council about the committees resolutions implemented during the former meeting held in Doha; along with the committee’s preparations for the next joint GCC events and the discussion of the Secretariat General’s memos in relation to a number of proposals and commission’s mandates. The meeting was chaired by the eGovernment Authority’s Chief Executive Officer Mohammad Ali Al Qaed.
Kamal bin Ahmed Mohammed Minister of Transportation welcomed heads and members of the delegations participating in the meeting. He further stressed the importance of cooperation between the GCC agencies and organizations of all sectors in the implementation of royal directives of the GCC country leaders through supporting, enhancing the joint of the GCC action and achieving the ambitions of the region’s nationals.
Al Qaed affirmed Bahrain’s commitment in supporting all efforts, initiatives and the several aspects of joint action between several GCC organizations.
“Working on creating a climate for effective cooperation between GCC eGovernments, in addition to exchanging of expertise and knowledge in this field which will inevitably contribute in reformulating a vision that leads to enhanced joint action and cooperation, highlighting the necessary transition from the framework of agreements and meetings into a true action in order to raise the quality of eGovernment work and provide a better life for everyone,” Al Qaed in his opening speech, said.
“We should play a vital role in implementing the recommendations endorsed by our commission to serve the eGovernment programs in the GCC countries with their nationals,” Al Qaed, added.
The meeting explored the Secretariat General’s memorandum in regards to discussing and adopting a GCC guided strategy in the eGovernment sector, in addition to organizing a set of GCC events in the future. Discussion also included the functions and mandates of the teamwork entrusted with the organization of the next sessions of the GCC eGovernment Conference and its exhibition, along with discussions of the memorandum about the preparations for the 3rd GCC eGovernment Conference, eGovernment Award, and the exhibition to be held in United Arab Emirates in 2013, as well as the preparations for the 2nd meeting of the Ministerial Committee for GCC eGovernment.
During the meeting, a briefing was given on the latest developments of hosting the committee’s meeting in eGovernment. The meeting also discussed the Secretariat General’s memorandum regarding the United Nations Public Service Awards and conference to be held in the Kingdom and the GCC preparations to take part in the event.
The delegates elaborated the Secretariat General’s memorandum regarding the outcomes of expert workshops on the discussion of the indexes of UN Global eGovernment readiness report held last November where international experts – representing 17 nations – raised a number of suggestions to develop the UN eGovernment Index. They also examined a number of suggestions raised by the Secretariat General’s memorandums, and the proposal submitted by the United Arab Emirates about the GCC use of the domain (Arab) and (arb.) – which was reviewed and considered.
In line with the 11th GCC eGovernment Committee meeting, the eGovernment Authority arranged for a number of high level visits to several national entities in order to showcase their successful experiences and the latest trends in the ICT field.
The periodic meetings of the GCC eGovernment Committee were approved during the GCC Ministerial Council in its 118th session held in March 2011 in Abu Dhabi. Additionally, a permanent ministerial committee is to be formed concerned with eGovernment in the member states; in order to raise its recommendations to the Ministerial Council.
This ministerial committee functions and mandates included supervising the GCC eGovernment action, formulating criteria and well-defined policies; coordinating and cooperating between eGovernment national projects to achieve integration in these areas between the member states, in addition to coordinating between member states in terms of the standardization of collective purchasing for software and electronic systems.