Kuwait City: Mohammed Ali Al Qaed, Chief Executive of the Information and eGovernment Authority (iGA), participated in the 27th meeting of the GCC eGovernment Executive Committee, held in the State of Kuwait. The meeting was attended by Dr. Khalid Ahmed Almutawa, iGA Deputy Chief Executive for Operations and Governance, along with senior executives, directors, and representatives of eGovernment entities from GCC countries.
According to Bahrain News Agency, the committee began by reviewing the GCC General Secretariat's report on the implementation of initiatives under the eGovernment strategic guide. It also discussed Kuwait's preparations to host the GCC Digital Government Award in 2025 and emphasised the importance of active participation by member states.
The committee examined a proposal to rename itself the "Digital Government Executive Committee" to reflect developments in information technology and digital transformation and to expand its scope in line with future requirements. It approved upgrading its working groups into specialised technical committees aligned with their mandates.
The committee reviewed the outcomes of the Joint eServices Team, including the GCC eGovernment network performance report, and assigned the team to submit regular usage reports to support operational efficiency and performance sustainability. It also reviewed the Unified Software and Hardware Procurement Team's recommendations, including procurement priorities, and examined a report submitted by the Kingdom of Bahrain on licensing models for technology companies. It recommended engaging with relevant companies to negotiate licence costs and achieve better economic returns.
Regarding artificial intelligence (AI) and emerging technologies, the committee approved the development of a unified GCC AI strategic guide, assigning Bahrain to lead its implementation within the framework of the guiding eGovernment strategy. It also reviewed the report by the Digital Trust Services Team, which outlined the work plan and technical requirements for adopting digital certificates, highlighting their role in enhancing the security of government digital transactions.
The committee discussed several initiatives submitted by the AI and Emerging Technologies Team, including the general framework for AI applications in public services and the AI-based climate forecasting and disaster management framework, both proposed by the Sultanate of Oman. The committee recommended submitting the report to the ministerial committee for approval.
The committee also reviewed the progress of technical teams and approved their regular meeting minutes, affirming the continuity of institutional efforts and joint technical coordination in various digital transformation fields.
The meeting concluded with a discussion on preparations for the ninth meeting of the GCC Digital Transformation Ministerial Committee and a review of the eighth meeting's minutes and adopted decisions. The Kingdom's participation emphasises its continued commitment to supporting Gulf integration in digital transformation and enhancing regional coordination through the exchange of expertise and the adoption of initiatives that advance the quality of government eServices across GCC countries.