iGA Holds ‘Government IT Empowerment Forum 2023’ in Partnership with Microsoft and ThinkSmart Gulf
04 Dec 2023
The Information & eGovernment Authority (iGA), in partnership with Microsoft and ThinkSmart Gulf, held the Government IT Empowerment Forum 2023. The forum showcased digital transformation initiatives in Bahrain's public sector and recognized the skilled workforce fostered by the 'Forsati for Government' program. Launched in 2019, 'Forsati' is carried out in collaboration with the Information & eGovernment Authority (iGA), Microsoft, and ThinkSmart Gulf. It serves as a key platform for cultivating the essential skills of government staff.
iGA Deputy CE of Operations and Governance, Dr. Khalid Almutawah, delivered the opening remarks at the forum. He highlighted that with more citizens and residents opting to conduct their government transactions through eServices, it becomes a priority to ensure that these offerings meet the highest standards of quality and reliability. "Through its comprehensive training approach, 'Forsati' has successfully prepared over a hundred team members. This is in line with our commitment to delivering secure and efficient eServices that reinforce the public's trust in the government's advanced capabilities by providing them with the best possible digital experience," he said.
Dr. Almutawah added that since its launch, 'Forsati' has trained and certified hundreds of public sector employees in Microsoft 365, Azure, and data analytics, resulting in the digital enablement of various ministries. So far, ThinkSmart Gulf has trained 156 candidates, 90 of whom have been certified through Microsoft exams, with the remaining few scheduled to take the exam by the end of this year.
Sheikh Saif Hilal Sultan Al Hosni, General Manager of Microsoft Oman and Bahrain, stated, "Our partnership with the iGA goes back more than 23 years now, and I am very proud of what has been achieved in this time. Microsoft is closely aligned with Bahrain's national priorities, and through the strategic use of our technologies and focus on education, we continue to support and drive innovation that will deliver on those agendas. Most notably, we continue our skilling programs to prepare government employees for the future. Lastly, I want to express my gratitude to ThinkSmart for being our partner in delivering technical skilling programs at scale."
Ahmed Al Hujairy, CEO of ThinkSmart Gulf, said, "We recognize the crucial need to continuously enhance the skills of government employees. Forsati meets that objective by empowering the public sector with the necessary know-how and credibility through Microsoft certifications, leading to the creation of a digital-savvy skilled workforce capable of addressing future challenges. We are proud of our contributions and role in this summit, which provided a unique opportunity to showcase ThinkSmart Gulf's achievements in this field."
The Government IT Empowerment Forum 2023 also shed light on digital transformation efforts and achievements by digital entities.
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