Page 47 - SAMENA Trends - November-December 2021

REGIONAL & MEMBERS UPDATES SAMENA TRENDS

iGA, Smart Way Discuss Ways to Promote Smart Cities in Bahrain

Information and eGovernment Authority smart cities in the Kingdom, and raise to accommodate future IT requirements.
(iGA) Chief Executive, Mohammed Ali Al awareness of their many benefits among The iGA continues to accelerate digital
Qaed, welcomed Smart Way Consulting the public and private sectors, individuals, transformation and launch Artificial
CEO, Waleed Khalaf and Vice President, and Non-Government organizations Intelligence (AI) applications that will
Daneh Al Rayes to his office at the iGA’s to help Bahrain keep pace with global improve efficiency and quality of life for
Isa Town premises, where they discussed developments. Al Qaed said that the the public. Bahrain adopted fundamental
plans for cooperation. Smart Way is the Kingdom has successfully implemented smart city elements during the pandemic
organizer of the annual Bahrain Smart Cities a range of smart city projects, such as through the deployment of advanced
Summit. The meeting included discussions providing a robust technical infrastructure technology that minimized the impact
on how to promote the development of linked to eGovernment that is prepared on Bahraini society and its economy. Al
Qaed highlighted the private sector’s role
in supporting technological progress in
the Kingdom, including Smart Way for
organizing the annual Bahrain Smart
Cities Summit and its efforts in promoting
digital transformation in cooperation
with government entities. He highlighted
the company’s role in providing valuable
IT expertise, including Al Rayes’s recent
contributions as a jury member of
eGovernment Excellence Awards 2021.
Khalaf expressed his appreciation to the
iGA for its cooperation, adding that Smart
Way stands ready to support pioneering
eGovernment initiatives that benefit the
Kingdom.

High Mobile, Internet Penetration Boost Use of E-Government Services in
Oman

Ninety-four per cent of household members cent during the same period. The results increased from 28 per cent in 2020 to 39
own a mobile phone, and 93 per cent of the also indicated that sending messages per cent in 2021. The results show that
surveyed individuals use the Internet, in via e-mail, WhatsApp or SMS came as clothes, shoes, sportswear, or accessories
the Sultanate, a survey has revealed. The the most prevalent arithmetic skill that are the types of goods or services that
information is part of a survey conducted accounted for 97 per cent, then using were purchased online, accounting for 66
by the National Centre for Statistics and copy and pasting tools with 87 per cent, per cent, while the foodstuffs purchased
Information’s “Measuring Access and and using basic arithmetic formulas on online was 56.8 per cent. The percentage
Usage of Information and Communication the data page reached 65 per cent. It also of preference for shopping in stores was
Technology Among Households and indicated that 94 per cent of household 71.8 per cent, while the percentage of
Individuals”. The results of the survey members own a mobile phone, and 93 disinterest in shopping online was 50.4 per
carried out in cooperation with the per cent of the surveyed individuals used cent of the surveyed sample. The data also
Ministry of Transport, Communications the Internet. The percentage of using the indicate that 94 per cent of families have
and Information Technology during the Internet for the purposes of interacting access to the Internet, and the percentage
period from 14 February to 4 March 2021. with e-government services increased of tablets in households increased from 37
The data showed an increase in the usage from 34 per cent in 2020 to 55 per cent in per cent in 2020 to 51 per cent in 2021, and
of laptops in the Sultanate of Oman, as it 2021. The use of online banking services smart TVs also increased from 47 per cent
increased from 34 per cent in 2020 to 38 also increased from 38 per cent in 2020 to to 59 per cent during the same period.
per cent in 2021, and the use of tablets 53 per cent in 2021, while the percentage
also grew from 17 per cent to 20 per of internet usage for educational purposes

47 NOV-DEC 2021