Month: June 2024

Manama, The Information and eGovernment Authority (iGA) received the Champions Award during the the United Nations’ World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS), recognising the revamped National Portal, bahrain.bh, from among more than 1,000 submissions globally under the eGovernment category as part of “ICT Applications: Benefits in All Aspects of Life categories.”

Mohammed Ali Al Qaed, the iGA Chief Executive, expressed pride in the achievement, highlighting the directives of General Shaikh Rashid bin Abdullah Al Khalifa, the Minister of Interior and Chairman of the Ministerial Committee for Information and Communication Technology (MCICT), to enhance the National Portal bahrain.bh and digital channels, improve access to government services, and enhance user experience.

Al Qaed underscored the iGA’s mission to continuously develop eServices since the portal’s launch in 2007, in line with technological advancements and the needs of citizen and resident. Following several development stages, the portal o
ffers information on 1,300+ government services, 680+ eServices, seamless electronic integration with more than 40 public and private entities, with monthly visits that surpassed 1.5 million visits.

The National Portal’s key features include user profile ‘Personalisation’, a favourite eServices list, ‘Government Notifications’ for various government entities, a transaction history spanning six months, and a smart assistant ‘Chatbot’. The portal supports multiple payment methods, including BenefitPay and Apple Pay, and provides secure payment options through a “Saved Cards” feature, enabling users to easily store bank or credit cards.

Al Qaed praised the portal users, citizens and residents, for their significant contributions towards this achievement, emphasising their cooperation with the iGA and their feedback and suggestions through various interactive channels.

During the WSIS 2024 awarding ceremony that took place in Geneva, Switzerland, the Champions award was received on behalf of the Information an
d eGovernment Authority by a representative from the Kingdom of Bahrain’s Mission to the United Nations in Geneva.

WSIS is an annual event held in Geneva by the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) to spotlight digital projects that contribute to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). It is co-organised by ITU, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO), the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), and the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD).

Source: Bahrain News Agency

Manama, His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince and Prime Minister, today received a cable of congratulations from the Minister of Information, HE Dr Ramzan bin Abdulla Al Nuaimi, on the success of the 54th session of the Arab Information Ministers’ Council meeting held under the patronage of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, President of the Arab Summit, in the Kingdom of Bahrain.

HE Dr Al Nuaimi emphasised that the patronage of His Majesty the King and the unwavering support of His Royal Highness has guided the efforts of Team Bahrain, ensuring the success of the 54th session of the Arab Information Ministers’ Council meeting in issuing resolutions that aim to bolster joint Arab initiatives and Arab solidarity in the face of regional challenges.

Source: Bahrain News Agency

Manama, Fatima bint Jaffar Al Sairafi, the Minister of Tourism, emphasised the importance of the deep-rooted historical Bahraini-Chinese ties and cooperation in various domains, including the economic and tourism sectors.

Gulf Air, the national carrier of Bahrain, launched direct flights to Guangzhou and Shanghai, coinciding with the state visit of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, the President of the current session of the Arab Summit, to the People’s Republic of China and the 35th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries.

Al Sairafi said the Chinese market is a key target market in Bahrain’s Tourism Strategy 2022-2026, highlighting the significant tourism opportunities it presents for the Kingdom and the region.

She underscored the ongoing efforts to collaborate with the private sector in developing tourism packages tailored to Chinese tourists.

The Ministry of Tourism and Bahrain Tourism and Exhibitions Authority (BTEA) are studying Chinese tourists’
interests and culture to create tourism experiences that will attract more Chinese visitors to Bahrain.

She added that BTEA recently signed a partnership with tourism offices in China to promote the Kingdom in the Chinese market.

Additionally, the BTEA organised a workshop for over 100 travel agencies, destination managers, and hotel establishments to learn about the Chinese market and the needs of Chinese tourists.

Source: Bahrain News Agency

Paris, Team Victorious its success in Europe after it recorded a new achievement by winning the Florence, France, 120 km race for the second consecutive time.

His Highness Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa, HM the King’s Representative for Humanitarian Work and Youth Affairs, emphasised that this achievement underscores the status of Bahraini endurance in European competitions.

HH Shaikh Nasser added that the team’s success reflects the continuous progress and advancement of Bahraini endurance on a global stage, demonstrating the support for equestrian sports by His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa and the government led by His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince, and Prime Minister.

Source: Bahrain News Agency