Bahrain is keen to bolster e-content to keep abreast of latest global trends, build a knowledge-based economy and encourage the youth to innovate, said Deputy Prime Minister and Supreme Committee for Information and Communications Technology chairman Shaikh Mohammed bin Mubarak Al Khalifa.

He was speaking during a ceremony to announce the winners of the 2013 Arab e-Content Award and the Bahrain e-Content Award. The awards, held once every two years, celebrate innovation and achievement in e-Content in the Arab region and Bahrain, reported the Gulf Daily News, our sister publication.

The ceremony was organised by Bahrain Internet Society (BIS) in co-operation with the e-Government Authority and the World Summit Award at the Diplomat Radisson Blu Hotel, Residence and Spa.

"Information technology and telecommunications represent the cornerstone of knowledge-based economies," the Deputy Premier said, stressing the importance of arming youth with modern technologies to make them nation builders.

Transportation Minister Kamal Ahmed also addressed the ceremony stressing the strategic importance of enriching Arab e-content.

"Arab e-content is still limited although Arabic is the sixth-most spoken language in the world," he noted.

Citing updated figures released by the Arab Information and Communication Technology Organisation, the minister said Arab e-Content does not exceed three per cent of total content on the Internet although the Arab population stands at 360 million.

"These figures are a wake-up call for all Arabs to redouble efforts and overcome the digital divide," he added.

WSA Summit chairman Professor Peter Brook stressed Bahrain's pioneering role in diffusing information technology and e-Content in the region.

Shaikh Mohammed also honoured Bahrain's Hisham Fawzi Shehabi who won the WSA Youth Award for his e-project "Diabetes". Tariq Al Alimi, Emad Naimi and Saleh Al Dirazi also contributed to the award-winning e-content project.

The winners are: BMI Bank, Kuwait Finance House-Bahrain and Bahrain Islamic Bank websites in the eBanking category; Bahrain International Airport and the Spring of Culture websites in the E-Culture and tourism category; Akhbar Al Khaleej, Al Ayam and startupBahrain in e-Media and journalism category; Filoosy, Gulf Air, and CIBAFI in e-Business and commerce category; 'Mums in Bahrain' website in the e-Inclusion and empowerment category; PaperV, Muharraq Club in the e-Entertainment and games category, Social Development and Finance Ministries in the e-Government and open data categories; Health Ministry, Artificial Reefs and Medical Informatics Systems in the e-Health and environment category and Batelco Innovation Centre (IDEAS) in the e-Learning and science categories-TradeArabia News Service