02-05-2025
ICT Governance Committee Reviews Digital Transformation Projects Worth 3 Million Bahraini Dinars
TDT | Manama
The Information and Communication Technology Governance Committee (ICTGC), chaired by Information & eGovernment Authority (iGA) Chief Executive Mohammed Ali Al Qaed, convened its 76th meeting virtually to evaluate a series of digital transformation projects and procurement proposals submitted by government entities. The total estimated value of the reviewed projects is approximately 3 million Bahraini dinars.
Opening the meeting, Mr. Al Qaed welcomed the committee members and extended his appreciation for their continued efforts and dedication to advancing Bahrain's digital infrastructure. The session focused on a wide range of strategic topics and project proposals aimed at enhancing government service efficiency and technological capabilities.
One of the major initiatives discussed was the Comprehensive Modernization of Telephone Communication Systems in Government Hospitals. The project involves transitioning to Internet Protocol (IP)-based communication using cloud services. This shift is expected to significantly reduce administrative overhead and operational costs while enhancing scalability and responsiveness in the health sector's communication infrastructure.
Other reviewed initiatives included:
The Examination Monitoring and Control System at the University of Bahrain, aimed at ensuring the integrity and efficiency of academic assessments.
The IT Service Management System at the iGA, supporting streamlined operations across governmental IT departments.
The Tax Data Analysis Platform at the National Revenue Authority, which will bolster data-driven decision-making and compliance monitoring.
The committee also examined a draft of the updated Open Data Policy, reinforcing Bahrain's commitment to transparency and public engagement. The proposed updates emphasize the release of datasets in open, machine-readable, and non-proprietary formats to encourage data reuse. Enhancements to metadata standards and a formal mechanism for public feedback were also discussed.
The policy revisions aim to align Bahrain with international best practices, including compliance with the Open Data Inventory (ODIN) and the United Nations eGovernment Development Index (EGDI). These measures support the Kingdom's vision of fostering innovation, public trust, and sustainable development through open governance.
Toward the conclusion of the meeting, the committee reviewed the implementation progress of decisions from previous sessions and followed up on ongoing projects.
Attendees included:
Nawal Ibrahim Al Khater, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Education
Dr. Khalid Ahmed Almutawa, iGA Deputy Chief Executive of Operations and Governance
Abdullah Ahmed Dhaif, Director of Financial Systems Development at the Ministry of Finance and National Economy
Ms. Linda Mohammed Junaid, Chief of Corporate Services at the Economic Development Board
Ahmed Abdulnabi Al Qayyim, Director of Services and Information Systems at the Prime Minister's Office
Dr. Hessa Jassim Al Junaid, Dean of the College of Information Technology at the University of Bahrain
Dr. Ali Mohammed Al Soufi, IT Advisor
