Bahrain’s Information & eGovernment Authority (iGA) attained significant milestones in digital transformation, investing in emerging technologies, and enhancing IT governance policies in the first half of 2024. 

 

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 ($992 million).

 

Some 700 eServices were delivered across all eGovernment channels and 35 new eServices launched in first half of year. This has resulted in 75% cost reduction and 68%-time reduction, said (iGA) Chief Executive, Mohammed Ali Al Qaed.

 

Purchase requests

Some 950 ICT purchase requests by over 50 government entities valued at BD36 million were reviewed and 100 strategic IT projects worth BD34 million were considered.

 

Al Qaed also said transactions through mobile applications available via the eGovernment app store, bahrain.bh/apps exceeded 691,000, 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% increase. 

 

The number of app downloads was over 902,000. 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 programme 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.

 

35 new eServices

Regarding the key services launched in the first half of 2024, Al Qaed said 35 new eServices were completed 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, birth 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.

 

Phase 2 of Sijilat 3.0

He mentioned 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 mentioned 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 said 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.

 

Data backup project

Among the achievements was a data backup project for 44 government entities utilising Microsoft 365 cloud computing services. This allowed the iGA's to provide backups for all iGA and other government entities, totalling 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 for 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.--TradeArabia News Service