11-06-2021

As part of the joint efforts between the Ministry of Labour and Social Development and the Information & eGovernment Authority to launch the pilot project of the National Platform for Bahrain Experts, the Director of the Training and Workforce Development Department at the Ministry, Dr. Essam Ismail Al Alawi, National Platform for Bahrain Experts Initiative Executive Team Chairman (Experts Register) initiative—explained that the team, in preparation for launching the platform, held a series of bilateral meetings with stakeholders at the Information & eGovernment Authority to review the steps and procedures and to follow up on the technical progress of designing the platform’s interface. He confirmed that the technical implementation would be completed within two months, in accordance with the first phase of the plan, noting that the pilot launch is scheduled for next July. Al Alawi pointed out that the implementation of this initiative reflects the prevailing spirit of cooperation among government entities. He extended his appreciation to the Information & eGovernment Authority for its efforts, which contributed to the completion of this pioneering national project. He emphasised that this cooperation stems from the Authority’s ongoing commitment to supporting government institutions in advancing digital transformation, in line with the directives and aspirations of the wise Government. The initiative, which forms part of the National Plan to Promote the Spirit of Belonging to the Nation and Reinforce the Values of Citizenship (Bahrainouna), aims to launch a comprehensive national platform that hosts a database of Bahraini experts and specialists across various disciplines, documenting their academic and professional backgrounds. This will facilitate the optimal use of national expertise and showcase their capabilities and best practices locally and internationally, positively reflecting Bahrain’s national human capital. Furthermore, highlighting these experts as role models will serve to inspire and motivate younger generations to pursue similar paths. Dr. Al Alawi noted that the platform will help unify the efforts of official and civil institutions by merging existing expert databases—such as those in the fields of engineering, health, real estate, economics, and others—while establishing suitable mechanisms for coordination among the various disciplines. This will enhance the ability of development sectors to effectively benefit from national expertise. The integrated expert register will also support the advancement of training, technical and scientific consultancy services, and strengthen Bahrainisation in strategic roles throughout the Kingdom. He further noted that the team conducted analytical studies of the sectors in the Kingdom of Bahrain, resulting in the selection of six sectors for inclusion in the platform’s first phase: the manufacturing industries sector, the engineering sector, the health sector, the real estate sector, the financial, insurance and banking sector, and the information and communications sector. He explained that these sectors were chosen as they are promising fields that attract human capital and represent the fastest-growing areas in the current and future phases. In this context, Al Alawi highlighted the positive cooperation shown by regulatory authorities across these six sectors. Entities including the Central Bank of Bahrain, the National Health Regulatory Authority (NHRA), the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Tourism, the Bahrain Authority for Culture and Antiquities, the Information & eGovernment Authority, the Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA), the The Council for Regulating the Practice of Engineering Professions (CRPEP), and the Real Estate Regulatory Agency (RERA) responded promptly by holding a series of bilateral consultative meetings. These meetings addressed the mechanisms used to classify professionals in their respective sectors and provided overall feedback on the initiative and the accreditation requirements for experts listed on the platform. This constructive input has played a vital role in enhancing the platform and laying a solid foundation to help achieve its national objectives. For his part, Mr. Abdulla Habib, Director of Government Systems Development Directorate at the Information & eGovernment Authority, highlighted the Authority’s role in completing a comprehensive study of workflow procedures for the National Platform for Bahrain Experts. He confirmed that the platform is being developed in several phases in line with modern software standards and includes electronic integration with relevant entities. He explained that the platform will provide a range of services to experts, including facilities for submitting and updating their data, and systems for reviewing and approving applications. These features will ensure seamless and integrated services for beneficiaries. He expressed the Authority’s pride in being a strategic partner of the Ministry of Labour and Social Development in this national endeavour, which will undoubtedly contribute to showcasing national expertise across local and international arenas.