Manama:The Shura Council's Secretary-General, Karima Mohammed Al Abbasi, welcomed a delegation from the legislative councils of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries. She conveyed greetings from Ali bin Saleh Al Saleh, Chairman of the Shura Council, emphasizing the significance of these visits in enhancing communication and coordination among GCC legislative councils and promoting the exchange of expertise and practices.
According to Bahrain News Agency, Al Abbasi highlighted the General Secretariat's ongoing efforts to provide robust administrative, advisory, technical, and technological support for parliamentary work. These efforts aim to keep pace with legislative process developments and improve institutional efficiency, reflecting the aspirations of King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa and aligning with the government's initiatives led by Crown Prince and Prime Minister Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa to advance development and institutional performance.
Al Abbasi further emphasized the importance of cooperation and knowledge exchange with GCC counterparts, underscoring the General Secretariat's readiness to share its achievements and experiences in legislative work. She noted the critical role of secretariats-general in supporting coordination during regional and international parliamentary participation, including organizing communication and contributing to the formulation of positions and statements in Gulf parliamentary diplomacy.
The Shura Council's progress in institutional development and digital transformation, including its transition towards a smart parliament using artificial intelligence, was also highlighted. Al Abbasi noted the Shura Council's commendable ranking, first in the Arab world and 13th globally, in the Digital Maturity Index as reported by the Inter-Parliamentary Union.
Additionally, she presented the "From Voice to Impact" initiative, which aims to enhance legislative awareness and community partnership by involving society members in legislative processes.
The delegation received presentations on the Shura Council's role, its constitutional powers, and its cooperation with the Council of Representatives and the government. They also learned about the General Secretariat's digital transformation journey and visited the main chamber to observe session management procedures and systems.