According to Bahrain News Agency (BNA), the two agreements were signed by Talal Abu-Ghazaleh, President of the Strategic Council for the Global Alliance for ICT and Development (GAID), part of the United Nations Department for Economic and Social Affairs (UNDESA), and eGovernment Authority CEO Mohammed Al Qaed.

The first MoU entails the establishment of a regional GAID office in Bahrain, in partnership with the eGovernment Authority, which will serve all GCC countries.

The office will work specifically on developing and advancing the ICT sector, and enhancing various ICT-related economic activities across the region. Moreover, the office will work closely with neighboring countries to achieve the United Nations’ Millennium Development Goals through practical strategies.

The second MoU involves creating joint programs in Bahrain aimed at promoting eLiteracy and narrowing the digital divide through training programs in organizational development, information management, network management, and ICT strategies. In addition, the programs will provide a series of specialized curricula in various IT disciplines, leveraged by TAG-Org’s vast international experience in IT and in partnership with leading international organizations such as the UNDESA.

Commenting on the occasion, Abu-Ghazaleh expressed his delight with Bahrain’s involvement, noting the Kingdom’s long standing commitment to excellence and advancement of the local society as a whole.

“I felt the earnest desire of both the esteemed leadership of the Kingdom and the eGovernment Authority in investing in and enhancing ICT in Bahrain and rest of the Arab world. I consider this partnership the first of many steps intended to exchange knowledge and expertise in this field,” he said.

“This marks the dawn of a new era of cooperation that will benefit Bahrain and the region,” said Al Qaed, commending TAG-Org’s efforts in improving eLiteracy and awareness of ICT.

“Nobody can deny the central role that modern ICT technologies play in economic and social growth. Our partnership with Talal Abu-Ghazaleh Organization is one of many initiatives that the eGovernment Authority is taking to encourage the usage of modern technologies. We are moving forward with our vision of providing a more convenient way of life for citizens, residents, and visitors of Bahrain, in line with Bahrain Economic Vision 2030,” he concluded.

Al Qaed recently attended GAID Strategic Council’s annual meeting, held last September in Monterrey, Mexico, where he met with Abu-Ghazaleh. The two discussed potential partnership avenues between the Kingdom and the Council to promoting the utilization of modern ICT technologies to achieve the UN Millennium Development Goals and facilitate development in various sectors, as well as examining the potential role that Bahrain can play in the Arab world in the ICT industry.

The eGovernment Authority (eGA) was established by Royal Decree No. (69) in August 2007. Reporting to the Cabinet, the eGA aims to coordinate and execute e-government initiatives in line with the strategies, plans, and programs set by the Supreme Committee for Information Communication Technology (SCICT), headed by Sheikh Mohammed bin Mubarak Al Khalifa, Deputy Prime Minister.

The eGA’s role entails everything from proposing overall policies and appropriate legislations to the SCICT for approval to overseeing the execution of the approved SCICT programs. This includes suggesting required IT programs, facilitating communications and services between all government entities, opening new e-channels for e-government services, and offering technical and knowledge-based support to the ministries and other government entities.

Currently, the eGA is working on executing the plans contained within Bahrain’s e-government strategy to achieve the ambitious Bahraini e-initiatives, as well as offering 200 basic governmental services electronically via various communication channels within 3 years to all citizens, residents, and businesses of Bahrain.

The eGA formed up of four directorates: Directorate of Policies and BPR, Directorate of Service Delivery and Channel Enhancement, Directorate of Marketing and Awareness and Directorate of Human and Financial Resources and Capacity Building.