National Digital Economy Strategy Committee Holds Fourth Meeting

The National Digital Economy Strategy (NDES) Steering Committee held its fourth meeting to review progress on initiatives aimed at advancing Bahrain’s digital transformation.

The meeting was chaired by Mr. Mohammed Al Qaed, Chief Executive of the Information & eGovernment Authority (iGA). 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 Labor Fund (Tamkeen) attended the meeting.

The committee reviewed the implementation of the National Digital Economy Strategy, which aims to strengthen Bahrain’s position as a digital economy hub, attract digital investment, and support innovation across key sectors. The strategy aligns with the directives of the Kingdom’s leadership and His Excellency Gen. Shaikh Rashid bin Abdullah Al Khalifa, Minister of Interior and Chairman of the Ministerial Committee for Information and Communication Technology.

Members discussed the status of NDES initiatives, noting that seven have been completed, while others are facing challenges. Guidance was provided to ensure all initiatives are completed on time and achieve their strategic goals.

Mr. Al Qaed said the meeting focused on improving coordination among government entities to speed up implementation. He stressed the importance of strong digital governance and the use of advanced technologies to improve government services and support economic and social development.

He added that national digital transformation helps Bahrain take advantage of digital opportunities and prepare for future regional and global challenges.

Several key initiatives have already been completed in the first phase of the strategy. These include establishing the Innovation and Advanced Technologies Directorate at the iGA, increasing STEM scholarships to more than 84% in the 2023–2024 academic year, and aligning the national cybersecurity strategy with digital economy goals.

The National Digital Economy Strategy includes a roadmap of 49 initiatives to be implemented by 2030, supporting Bahrain’s vision for a sustainable and competitive digital economy.

More information about the strategy is available on the iGA website (iga.gov.bh) and the National Portal (bahrain.bh).