Manama: The Information and eGovernment Authority (iGA) and Beyon Connect, a subsidiary of the Beyon Group, have announced the launch of eKey 2.0 at an event held at the Gulf Hotel Conference Hall. The event marked a significant milestone in the Kingdom of Bahrain's journey towards digital transformation.
According to Bahrain News Agency, the launch was inaugurated by General Shaikh Rashid bin Abdullah Al Khalifa, Minister of Interior and Chairman of the Ministerial Committee for Information and Communications Technology. The occasion saw attendance from Shaikh Abdulla bin Khalifa Al Khalifa, Beyon Chairman, and other key officials and industry representatives from companies that are early adopters of the new eKey 2.0 system.
A press conference followed the inauguration, where Mohammed Ali Al Qaed, Chief Executive of iGA, and other key figures discussed the significance of eKey 2.0. Al Qaed emphasized that the system aligns with the directives of Bahrain's government, under the leadership of His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa. It focuses on using advanced technology to enhance government services, streamline transactions through biometric authentication, and eliminate the need for passwords.
The upgraded eKey system, supported by a mobile application, facilitates secure and efficient access to a range of services, supporting Bahrain's Economic Vision 2030. It represents a shift in identity authentication and service accessibility across sectors while enhancing Know Your Customer (KYC) procedures. The system also integrates features like user-controlled data sharing and secure transaction authorization.
Al Qaed expressed pride in the collaboration with Beyon Connect, highlighting the value of public-private partnerships in delivering efficient services. The initiative aims to enhance Bahrain's position in the information and communications technology sector both regionally and globally. The government-backed eKey 2.0 initiative is ready for broader use by various sectors, offering high-security identity authentication without significant infrastructure investment.
Shaikh Mohamed bin Khalifa Al Khalifa, CEO of Beyon Digital, highlighted the strategic partnership with iGA, focusing on delivering innovative digital identity solutions. The upgraded eKey 2.0 addresses the demand for robust identity security, supporting customer-facing industries and early adopters like Batelco and Beyon Money.
Christopher Hild, CEO of Beyon Connect, detailed eKey 2.0's role as Bahrain's national identity verification system, applicable in sectors like banking, finance, telecommunications, and healthcare. The system aligns with international standards and complies with Bahrain's data protection regulations.
Dr. Khalid Ahmed Al Mutawah, Deputy Chief Executive of Operations and Governance at iGA, emphasized eKey 2.0's role in enhancing security and accessibility with biometric authentication. The system will enable iGA to introduce new services requiring advanced security measures.
In its initial phase, eKey 2.0 will integrate with services from over 14 government and private entities. This includes the My Gov app, Bahrain.bh National Portal, and several banks and telecom companies. Further integrations are planned, with appreciation extended to all partners in this digital transformation initiative.
Notably, government entities like the Ministry of Industry and Commerce and private companies, including the National Bank of Bahrain and Binance, have linked their services to the advanced eKey system. Users are encouraged to download the new eKey 2.0 app for seamless access to services requiring digital verification, available on various app stores and the e-government application store Bahrain.bh/apps.
For more information or inquiries, users can contact the Government Services Call Center at 80008001 or submit comments through the National Suggestions and Complaints System, Tawasul.