Manama: Bahrain's eGovernment Authority has successfully accomplished the main objectives of the National Strategy for 2007-2010, a senior official has said.
"I am proud to announce that we have accomplished one of the most important milestones of the national strategy that we set three years ago, by completing 203 eServices and make them available through various channels," Shaikh Ahmad Bin Atiyatallah Al Khalifa, Minister of Cabinet Affairs and Minister Responsible for the Telecommunications Sector, said.
The government eServices include payment, enquiry, general information, appointment, general complaints, posting suggestion, and students' exam results and other services for all social and age groups, businesses and visitors to the Kingdom of Bahrain through the above-mentioned channels.
"The eGovernment services are distinctively comprehensive in nature to meet the requirements of all, irrespective of their age, income, or education, and no matter whether being students, doctors, lawyers, housewives or expats," Shaikh Ahmad said.
The eGovernment portal - www.bahrain.bh - offers 203 eServices for users to utilise diverse range services, with opportunity to interact through Web2.0 social networking tools (Facebook, e-Blog, YouTube and Twitter), besides a monthly e-Newsletter.
The Mobile Portal (www.bahrain.bh/mobile) provides 55 eServices such as payment, registration and enquiry that allow anyone with a mobile phone to communicate with ease with all government entities and make use of eServices specifically customised for mobile phones.
The mobile gateway provides a mobile version of the eGovernment Portal through any WAP- equipped phones, in addition to other services available through SMS.
Moreover, 15 eService centres have been launched covering all areas in Bahrain and availing easy and trouble-free access along with the support from onsite available specialists.
Shaikh Ahmad said during a press conference that the eGovernment Authority launched 15 self-service kiosks available in all public facilities throughout Bahrain. The eKiosks are fixed self-service machines that largely resemble ATMs and allow users to perform eServices easily.
According to the minister, the cost of a single government transaction in traditional methods of payment ranges from BD 3 to BD 6.5 while a transaction through the portal costs 0.90 fils.
The figures are based on a research by North West eGovernment Group (NWEGG), UK and approved by Investment Property Forum (IPF), UK that sets the contrast between the traditional, face-to-face transactions and those offered through e-payment portals and websites."
