Manama: Mohammed Ali Al Qaed, Chief Executive of the Information and eGovernment Authority (iGA), has announced the completion of six initiatives under the National Digital Economy Strategy (NDES). This strategy is part of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa's vision to harness advanced technologies, such as Artificial Intelligence (AI), to innovate government services and bolster Bahrain's leadership in the digital economy. The vision is further supported by His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince and Prime Minister, aiming to achieve sustainable growth and prosperity.
According to Bahrain News Agency, Al Qaed emphasized that these completed initiatives are supervised by General Shaikh Rashid bin Abdullah Al Khalifa, Minister of Interior and Chairman of the Ministerial Committee for Information and Communication Technology (MCICT). The first phase of the strategy includes nine short-term initiatives, with a total of 49 planned through 2030. These initiatives are designed to apply the highest digital standards, encourage digital investment, and stay aligned with the latest technological advancements.
A significant initiative in the first phase is the creation of an official AI and emerging technologies unit, now incorporated as the Innovation and Advanced Technologies Directorate within the iGA. This Directorate is tasked with developing policies for emerging technologies and assisting government entities in adopting AI for national projects.
Another notable initiative is the expansion of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) scholarships, led by the Ministry of Education. For the 2023/2024 academic year, STEM scholarships constituted over 84% of the total scholarships offered. Similarly, an initiative addressing the NDES requirements in alignment with the National Cybersecurity Strategy was completed in collaboration with the National Cybersecurity Center (NCSC), alongside several other projects undertaken by government entities.
Al Qaed remarked that these initiatives form part of Bahrain's first comprehensive digital strategy for both public and private sectors. These efforts are expected to drive sustainable development across various sectors, including financial services, tourism, industry, IT, logistics, and healthcare. Furthermore, they aim to foster a borderless digital economy and position Bahrain as a competitive and interconnected economic hub.
He added that the iGA's strategy implementation team is actively working with stakeholders to initiate further projects in subsequent phases. The team will monitor performance metrics and make necessary adjustments to ensure the initiatives' success, evaluating their impact across all economic sectors.