Bahrain’s eGovernment Authority (eGA) has clinched a major award at the World Summit Award (WSA) – Mobile Content in the M-Government and participation category held in Abu Dhabi.

The WSA - Mobile Content is the first event of its kind to link the mobile community in more than 160 countries and is organized to recognize and promote the world’s best in mobile content and innovative applications.

The award was presented to eGA chief executive Mohammad Al Qaed by WSA board chairman, Peter Bruck, at a gala event held at Abu Dhabi National Exhibitions Center.

The mobile portal (www.bahrain.bh/mobile), one of the eGA’s main service delivery channels, was declared the first of its type in the region to offer a variety of round-the-clock services to miniseries provided over WAP or by SMS.

In addition, all eGA services, which have reached 51 services so far, are made available in Arabic and English, said its top official.

“With the rapid developments in mobile phones and their networks, and the new orientation towards the usages and applications of mobile, we were honoredby receiving a global recognition from the World Summit Award – Mobile Content,' said an elated Qaed after bagging the award.

'This is clear evidence that the Kingdom has been successful in introducing a unique portal with varied and accessible eGovernment services,' he noted.

Al Qaed thanked the Supreme Council for Information Communication Technology (SCICT), headed by Sheikh Mohammed bin Mubarak Al Khalifa, Deputy Prime Minister, for its support.

The mobile portal contains highly exclusive and secure services giving high penetration and accessibility. The Mobile Portal was ranked top regionally according to the United Nations’ Report on mobile contents and technology applications.

Lauding the Kingdom's eGA achievement, WSA chief Peter Bruck said Bahrain was the only country in the Middle East that had so far been able to link ministries and services in one mobile portal.

He pointed out that the winners were selected from 400 entries received from all over the world based on their distinguished and unique projects.

The evaluation was done on the basis of the following eight categories - m-Business and Commerce, m-Government and Participation, m-Learning and Education, m-Entertainment and Lifestyle, m-Tourism and Culture, m-Media and News, m-Environment and Health, and m-Inclusion and Empowerment.
  
Al Qaed said the mobile portal was launched as part of the current National strategy for eGovernment to offer eServices through various channels. It currently offers 51 government services with 4 more to be launched, making a total of 55 eservices by the end of 2010.

“Offering mobile eGovernment services is intended to make life easier for citizens and users by making services available from anywhere and at anytime,' the eGA chief said.

The portal distinctively offers a variety of key eServices including e-payment services, enquires, information, examination results, complaints and others.

The ceremony was attended by several top executives including Ahmed Al Bawardi, secretary-general of Executive Council of Abu Dhabi; Shaikha Lubna Al Qasimi, UAE Minister of Economic and Planning and the chairman of Securities Authority; Rashed Lahej Al Mansoori, director general of Abu Dhabi Systems and Information Centre; Ivo Ivanovski , Macedonia Minister of Information Society and Dr Talal Abu Gazala, chairman of Global Strategic Alliance for ICT and Development (GAID).-TradeArabia News Service