Staff Reporter

MUSCAT The Sultanate is participating in the United Nations Public Service (UNPS) Forum and Awards Ceremony 2013 opened in Manama, Bahrain, on Monday, according to a press release.

Dr Salim Sultan Al Ruzaiqi, CEO of the Information Technology Authority (ITA), is heading the delegation which comprised of government officials, including the Supreme Council for Planning, State Financial and Administrative Audit Institution, Ministry of Regional Municipalities and Water Resources, Public Authority for Consumer Protection and Muscat Municipality.

The forum was inaugurated by Sheikh Mohammed Bin Mubarak Al Khalifa, Deputy Prime Minister of Bahrain. The forum, in which over 700 delegates from over 94 countries are participating, will continue till June 27. It is organised by the United Nations – Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UNDESA) and the government of Bahrain.

Ruzaiqi said: “The participation in the UNPS Forum and Awards Ceremony 2013 is of great importance as it attracts top decision-makers and specialists in the public service field from around the world.”

He said: “The government entities in the Sultanate have proven that they are making great strides in order to facilitate public services using the ICT, and winning this international award for the fifth time is a clear evidence of their achievement and international recognition and the level of development in providing public services easily.”

From among Omani delegation, Dr Hilal Said Al Shidhani, Social Media Strategy Consultant at the Supreme Council for Planning, will present a paper about the impact of social media on Small and Medium Enterprises’ strategy planning.

Ruzaiqi will participate in an open discussion involving heads and directors of eGovernment authorities and programmes on the recently launched common GCC eGovernment strategy, and the challenges facing the implementation of eGovernment in the GCC.

On the sidelines of the forum and in order to exchange experiences and present GCC states best practices in eGovernment, the eGovernment Authority organised a workshop entitled ‘GCC Initiatives towards eGovernment and Sustainable Public Service’.

The two-day workshop, which involves the eGovernment authorities and programmes in the Gulf, will be accompanied by an exhibition of GCC experiences in the field of public service. The exhibition aims to highlight the progress made by the GCC countries at the global level in the field of eGovernment, as well as to present the projects and initiatives that have won the United Nations Public Service Awards. The exhibition will also serve as a platform for discussion and constructive debate among the event participants, said the release.