During the first half (H1) of this year, the volume of government transactions conducted through electronic channels in Bahrain, such as the National Portal (Bahrain.bh), the eGovernment Apps Store (Bahrain.bh/apps), and self-service kiosks, surpassed 2,200,000 online transactions.
According to Dr. Zakareya Ahmed Al Khaja, iGA (Information and e-goverment authority) deputy chief executive officer, the total count of electronic transactions conducted through eGovernment mobile applications witnessed a notable increase, reaching around 700,000. This represents a 15 percent surge when compared to the first half of 2022. Financial transactions experienced a 13 percent rise, while app usage saw an 18 percent increase.
Read more: POS transactions in Bahrain increase to $125.5 mn in 2021
Consistent enhancements
The upward trends in these figures can be attributed to the consistent enhancements and updates made by the iGA to the eGovernment Apps. Additionally, users’ preference for and convenience in accessing government services through smart devices have played a significant role in driving these increases.
Dr. Al Khaja emphasized that these positive outcomes align with the strategic direction of the iGA, which aims for comprehensive digital transformation in the Kingdom. The continuous efforts to enhance the efficiency of government entities and improve the quality of public service delivery have also contributed to these favorable results.
He highlighted the ongoing efforts by the iGA to enhance the National Portal Bahrain.bh. These efforts aim to improve the user experience and have resulted in the introduction of new services and innovative features.
These enhancements encompass various features such as profile personalization, the capability to view messages received from the Government Notifications System, access to transaction records and receipts, as well as the inclusion of the Government Services Catalogue.
In addition to these updates, the infrastructure of the portal underwent improvements to enhance its capacity, responsiveness, and ensure seamless navigation on mobile and smart devices.
Smart factory initiative
In a correlated announcement, Bahrain’s Minister of Industry and Commerce, Abdullah bin Adel Fakhro, has introduced the iFactories initiative. This national endeavor aims to propel Bahrain’s industrial sector towards the Fourth Industrial Revolution, also referred to as Industry 4.0. The initiative aims to create opportunities for seamless integration with eGovernment transactions, further enhancing the digital transformation of the country’s industrial landscape.
This initiative not only focuses on the industrial sector’s transformation but also aligns with the advancements made in eGovernment transactions. By leveraging the progress in digitalization and electronic systems, the iFactories initiative aims to assess the readiness and digital maturity of factories. It further facilitates investments in technology infrastructure and manufacturing automation.
The primary objective of this initiative is to convert 300 factories into smart factories by the year 2026. To accomplish this goal, the initiative will be implemented through a strategic partnership with Tamkeen, a semi-autonomous government agency dedicated to the development of the private sector.
The factory transformation process comprises four stages. Initially, the Ministry of Industry and Commerce will offer advisory and technical assistance to facilitate self-evaluation by the factories. Subsequently, accredited evaluators will conduct a comprehensive evaluation, leading to the design stage where a digital transformation plan will be developed. This plan will serve as the foundation for the empowerment stage, enabling factories to access support and incentives to aid their transformation journey.
The fourth and final step involves the development phase, during which the Ministry will closely monitor the transformation process using performance monitoring tools and measure the relevant indicators.
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