Manama: The National Digital Economy Strategy (NDES) Steering Committee held its fourth meeting, led by Mohammed Al Qaed, Chief Executive of the iGA and Chairman of the Committee. The meeting was attended by representatives from the Prime Minister's Office, the Ministry of Finance and National Economy, the Ministry of Industry and Commerce, the Ministry of Education, the Economic Development Board (EDB), and the Labour Fund (Tamkeen).
According to Bahrain News Agency, the meeting is a part of the Committee's ongoing efforts to monitor the implementation of the NDES, which aims to strengthen the Kingdom's position as an integrated digital economic hub, create an attractive environment for digital investment, and support innovation across key sectors. This aligns with directives from the senior leadership and General Shaikh Rashid bin Abdullah Al Khalifa, Minister of Interior and Chairman of the Ministerial Committee for Information and Communication Technology (MCICT).
Committee members reviewed the initiatives under NDES, including seven completed initiatives, and addressed challenges faced by others. The Committee is guided to ensure these initiatives are completed within approved timelines and achieve their strategic objectives.
Al Qaed emphasized that the meeting focused on strengthening coordination among entities implementing national initiatives to support timely completion and achieve the strategy's goals. He highlighted the importance of applying digital governance standards and adopting advanced technologies to ensure efficient and effective strategy implementation.
This approach contributes to the continuous development of government services, enhances their efficiency, and underscores the positive impact of national digital transformation on both the economy and society. It also ensures the Kingdom is well-positioned to capitalize on digital opportunities and address future challenges regionally and internationally.
The first phase of the strategy has already achieved key national initiatives, including establishing the Innovation and Advanced Technologies Directorate at the iGA; increasing scholarships in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics disciplines to over 84% for the 2023-2024 academic year; and aligning the national cybersecurity strategy with digital economy objectives.
These efforts are part of a broader roadmap to implement 49 initiatives by 2030, supporting national efforts to build an innovative and sustainable digital economy and enhance Bahrain's regional and global competitiveness.
For more information and to access the official version of the National Digital Economy Strategy, please visit the iGA's website at iga.gov.bh or the National Portal, bahrain.bh.