Bahrain : The Information and eGovernment Authority (iGA) announced the launch of a 3-year programme to provide Cloud computing training to 600 employees from 75 governmental and semi-governmental entities, in line with the Government of Bahrain’s Cloud First policy.
iGA Deputy CE, Operations and Governance, Dr. Khalid Al Mutawa reaffirmed the Authority’s commitment to the policy, within the framework of promoting investment in the Kingdom and increasing its global competitiveness. The programme will be rolled out in association with Microsoft as one of the cloud-technology leaders under its existing contract with the Government of Bahrain.
Dr. Al Mutawa said that this training programme is among several initiatives the iGA plans to implement this year with leading digital solutions providers, to enhance innovation and improve the quality of government services.
The Microsoft training courses are expected to improve the efficiency of public sector employees in cloud services, in line with the directives of national leadership and the Supreme Council for Information and Communication Technology (SCICT), chaired by the Deputy Prime Minister, His Highness Shaikh Mohammed bin Mubarak Al Khalifa.
Dr. Al Mutawa also extended his appreciation to the Minister of Interior, General Shaikh Rashid bin Abdullah Al Khalifa for his continuous support and encouragement toward the adaptation and training of Cloud computing technologies.
The new programme is also in line with the iGA’s commitment to providing all ministries and governmental authorities with advanced technologies that enable the development of their digital transformation plans, including the services offered to citizens and residents. The first Microsoft course will be launched in February. Work is underway to roll out the programme, with the Training and Development department communicating the details to all eligible governmental and semi-governmental organizations and registering nominated employees. Some courses will require participants to take exams to obtain a passing certificate while others require attendance only. The iGA aims to train approximately 200 employees this year and 600 by the end of the programme’s term in 2024.
Dr Al Mutawa said that the Kingdom of Bahrain has successfully adopted its Cloud First policy at the government level, thanks to its high level of technical readiness, and the availability of national human resources with the necessary competencies and expertise.
Microsoft Bahrain and Oman Country Manager Shaikh Saif Hilal Al Hosni said: “We are delighted to be collaborating with the iGA on this initiative, which seeks to train government employees on Cloud computing technologies and provide them with the necessary skills to help digitally transform government services and improve operations. The objectives of the Cloud Frist policy, including raising the level of services provided to the public, advancing economic development, and building a knowledge-based economy in line with Economic Vision 2030, can only be achieved by preparing organizations’ human capital and qualifying nationals.”
The Kingdom of Bahrain has adopted its Cloud computing policy in 2017, following a decision by the SCICT, with the aim of redirecting IT investment towards Cloud computing, in cooperation with technology leaders. The iGA has already provided Cloud computing training to a number of public and private sector employees to encourage innovation, provide greater flexibility, and help the Kingdom reduce expenditures.
