Bahrain’s Information & eGovernment Authority (iGA) will launch the BeAware Bahrain App, with a bundle of new features and key services. 

 

This comes in line with the directives of the government and will enhance the user experience of the application, being one of the most prominent national initiatives that reflects eTransformation and the employment of Artificial Intelligence (AI) techniques, iGA Chief Executive Mohamed Ali Al Qaed revealed. 

 

The new features will include showing user’s digital government documents such as ID card, passport, birth certificate, driving licence and vehicle registration (My Cards), as well as adding a feature related to health appointments (My Medical Appointments), while the (My Health Cards) feature includes details and information related to the Covid-19 vaccination record, as well as a number of other additional features that individuals use on a daily basis and are a priority for them, he said.

 

50 new eServices in 2022

iGA had launched over 50 new eServices in 2022 and seen 3.7 million eTransactions while it provides 600 eServices through various channels.

 

iGA had launched a bundle of government e-Transformation initiatives and national projects during the year 2022. This is in addition to the enhancement of the government’s eServices framework that is in-line with the objectives of the Government’s Action Plan and support the National ICT & Digital Economy strategy (2022-2026) as well as the Economic Recovery Plan to achieve the overall national development under the leadership of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, the King of Bahrain. 

 

Al-Qaed also said that with the continuous support and directives of His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, the IGA has implemented the kingdom's eTransformation plans in partnership with the public entities through the continuous development of government services and providing a high-readiness ICT infrastructure and eChannels that are beneficial to the citizens and residents. 

 

Improved services

In addition, a number of key government services been improved, which had great impact on the national achievements of the comprehensive digital transformation, stressing on iGA’s ongoing efforts to raise the efficiency and effectiveness of the government sector and improve government procedures through modern technologies.

 

This was during a press conference addressed by iGA led by Al Qaed in presence of Dr Zakaria Ahmed Al Khaja, Deputy CE for eTransformation sector at iGA.

 

Al-Qaed added that during the year 2022, the iGA continued its efforts to accelerate the pace of digital transformation plans of the government agencies and its eServices provided, which resulted in achieving a series of key achievements, most notably 600+ eServices, which are among the government services with high priority as per the decisions of the Government Services Development Committee, praising the joint coordination and efforts between the Committee and government agencies, which had a great impact on the implementation plans. 

 

The CE of iGA indicated that the year 2022 was marked by the launch of Al Tajir mobile app, which is the first integrated app of its kind in the region that serves businesses in Bahrain. The app enables business users to complete and follow up transactions with various relevant government agencies through one single easy and convenient platform, saving their time and effort. 

 

2022 achievements

Dr Al Khaja presented the 2022 achievements and the upcoming iGA plans for eTransformation. As part of iGA’s achievements in 2022, Al Khaja explained that the statistics and indicators were very positive. He highlighted that the iGA team efforts has contributed in implementing a number of national initiatives in the field of digital transformation and the continuous development of eChannels. 

 

This has been represented by the increase of the number of e-services to more than 450 eServices through the National portal bahrain.bh, 19 eServices through self-service eKiosks, in addition to more than 125 eServices through eGovernment mobile apps, which contributed to achieving more than 18 million visits to the National Portal (22% increase) and 89% average eService usages compared to traditional channels. The number of eTransactions exceeded 3.7 million transactions completed through the various electronic channels of the eGovernment programme.

 

Dr Al Khaja said also confirmed that the Authority has worked on implementing and launching a number of projects and systems that support eTransformation in cooperation and coordination with government agencies, including the eAuthorisation system, the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) platform, the National System for Births and improvements to the Government Service Centre Evaluation system (Taqyeem). 

 

MoI eServices

In regards to the most prominent eServices launched during the year 2022, the Ministry of Interior (MoI) came at the forefront as it launched 20 eServices -- 9 eServices for the Nationality, Passports and Residency Affairs (NPRA), 7 eServices for the Information and eGovernment Authority (iGA), in addition to 3 services for the Customs Affairs, and an eService for the General Directorate of Crime Detection and Forensic Evidence. 

 

While the rest of the eServices launched were distributed among a number of sectors, i.e. the health sector included the launch of 6 new eServices, Trade and Business sector witnessed the launch of 4 eServices, including 2 eServices for the Ministry of Industry and Commerce (MOIC) and 1 eService for each of the Labour Market Regulatory Authority (LMRA) and the Social Insurance Organisation (SIO), while the housing and real estate sector witnessed the launch of 4 eServices, two services for each of the Ministry of Housing and Urban Planning and the Real Estate Regulatory Authority. 

 

The justice sector witnessed the launch of 11 eServices including 3 eServices for the Ministry of Justice, Islamic Affairs and Awqaf, and 8 eServices for the Legislation and Legal Opinion Authority. Moreover, the education sector received the launch of 4 eServices affiliated with the Higher Education Council, while the labour and employment sector witnessed the launch of a new eService.-- TradeArabia News Service