iGA CE: progress in digital transformation, operations and governance in H1 2024

Manama, Mohammed Ali Al Qaed, Information and eGovernment Authority (iGA) Chief Executive, said that the iGA achieved significant milestones in digital transformation, investing in emerging technologies, and enhancing IT governance policies in collaboration with other government agencies during the first half of 2024. Al Qaed said that achievement resulted from the vision of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, and the guidance of the government led by His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince and Prime Minister. Al Qaed praised the continuous follow-up of General Shaikh Rashid bin Abdullah Al Khalifa, Minister of Interior and Chairman of the Ministerial Committee for Information and Communication Technology (MCICT), and said that the digital transformation journey witnessed several positive indicators in the first half of 2024. The total eServices reached more than 700 eServices accessible across all eGovernment channels, making the digital transformation rate for gover nment services and national systems to reach 89%, contributing to a 75% reduction in government costs and a 68% reduction in the time required to complete transactions. These achievements reflect alignment with the government's vision and directives to continue implementing digital transformation initiatives and innovating high-quality government services for citizens and residents, enhancing their user experience. The number of electronic transactions completed through the National Portal, bahrain.bh, mobile applications and other electronic channels reached 4 million, with the value of payments via all digital channels exceeding BD374 million in the first half of the year. Al Qaed also highlighted that transactions through mobile applications available via the eGovernment app store, bahrain.bh/apps exceeded 691,000 in the first half of this year, a 20% rise compared to the first half of 2023, with an average monthly usage rate exceeding 788,000, and payment transactions surpassing BD32 million, a 14% inc rease. The number of app downloads exceeded 902,000 in the first half of the year. The AlTajer app saw a 192% increase in payment transactions during this period, with a 48% rise in the average number of monthly users. Similarly, the eShabab app saw a 99% increase in the average number of users compared to the first half of 2023, following the provision of scholarship and program registration services. There was also a 38% jump in the average monthly users of the Sehati app, a 27% increase for the Tawasul app, and a 20% rise for the eTraffic app. The most used apps in the first half of this year were eTraffic, with a monthly average of over 230,000 users, and Sehati, with a monthly average of over 136,000 users. Regarding the key services launched in the first half of 2024, Al Qaed confirmed the completion of 35 new eServices through the National Portal and eGovernment channels, including 9 new services provided by the iGA, such as the QR code-enabled ID card printing service, death certificate services, b irth certificate request status inquiry, and ID card renewal for senior citizens. Additionally, 3 new eServices from the Ministry of Industry and Commerce and related entities within the AlTajer app were launched, including a video call consultation request service, a digital business advisor service, and a Commercial Registration (CR) without a license service. There was also a service launched for the Nationality, Passports and Residence Affairs (NPRA), the introduction of the Ministry of Housing and Urban Planning's financing request service, along with a new service from the Ministry of Justice, Islamic Affairs, and Endowments. Al Qaed also highlighted the launch of 12 national systems, including Death Registration, the Building Permit Portal (Benayat), and the National Correspondence System 2.0, with updates to 124 services in these systems, including 33 new services. He added that the launch of phase two of Sijilat 3.0, which provides users with a new interface and dashboard, along with 29 services, including 5 new ones. The National Suggestion and Complaint System (Tawasul) was also improved, adding the Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA) and Eskan Bank as new entities. He noted that the total number of cases directed through various government entities via the system during the first half of 2024 exceeded 85,000, with a service level commitment rate of 98.5% and a satisfaction rate of 85% for entity performance on Tawasul. Al Qaed also highlighted the redesign of service procedures and systems to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of delivering government services. A total of 81 national initiatives, including electronic services and information systems for government entities, were restructured. To ensure service quality, 23 government websites were evaluated, and over 800 national systems tested, with 251 government employees from 24 entities trained. He said that the launch of two new eServices for Benayat in the first half of 2024 which accelerate transaction completion, including large and small addition services, along with advertising and road occupancy permits for large additions, benefiting approximately 1,400 engineering offices, owners, and government entities, and enabling them to issue building permits electronically through the system within two working days. Al Qaed confirmed that the National Geospatial Database supports relevant entities by providing geospatial data, with more than 133,000 accesses to the data, either directly or through service systems such as Benayat and permits and planning platforms, among other systems that are linked to the database. As for key operations and governance achievements, Al Qaed added that the iGA, through its chairmanship of the IT Governance Committee, reviewed approximately 950 IT-related purchase requests submitted by over 50 government entities, which were valued at more than BD36 million, and reviewed approximately 100 strategic IT projects submitted by more than 30 government entities with an estimated cost exceeding BD34 millio n. Among the achievements was a data backup project for 44 government entities utilizing Microsoft 365 cloud computing services. This allowed the iGA's to provide backups for all iGA and other government entities, totaling 709, on a daily, monthly, and annual basis, enhancing comprehensive protection of data and information assets. The number of registered users for the advanced eKey, from the system's launch until the first half of this year reached approximately 768,000 users, with over 14 million successful logins during the first half of the year. Al Qaed also highlighted operations and governance achievements, including 20 entities being linked to the data lake, the transference of 72 sets of data from various entities, and the launch of the real estate information bank platform, Aqari, with an Employment Skills Platform nearing launch. Additionally, an interactive electronic meeting system was implemented during the 33rd Arab Summit, hosted by Bahrain. Two different system models were created, one fo r summit preparatory meetings and the other for the summit itself. The system was also applied in the 54th session of the Council of Arab Information Ministers, also hosted by Bahrain. Al Qaed affirmed that these achievements are the result of the continuous efforts by iGA employees and cooperation with government entities to achieve sustainable growth in Bahrain's digital transformation journey, in line with the government's vision to enhance and develop the quality of services for the benefit of all segments and sectors of society. Source : Bahrain News Agency