This was disclosed in a statement issued by the e-Government Authority Bahrain in light of the 8th GCC e-Governments’ heads committee meeting held in Kuwait.

"The aim of these efforts is to promote cooperation among the gulf states with regard to information technology and communications," said the e-Government Authority Bahrain in a statement.

"It also aims to exchange experiences in the implementation of joint projects, such as the guidelines for the conclusion of framework agreements prepared by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and the framework agreements concluded or to be concluded by the member states with international ITC companies and other procedures for the procurement processes in all member states to formulate a unified gulf framework for e-procurement," it added.

The meeting also decided to host the 2nd GCC e-Government Conference, Exhibition and Awards Ceremony in November 2011 in Kuwait.

Zakareya Ahmed Al-Khaja, director of standards, quality and procedures engineering at the e-Government Authority Bahrain, attended the meeting of the heads of the GCC e-Government Authorities and programs in the GCC countries which was held in Kuwait under the chairmanship of Salim bin Khamis Al-Shair, director general of the General Authority of Information, United Arab Emirates.

The meeting came up with a number of important recommendations about the e-government programs at the GCC level, along with discussions of developments on the issues that were addressed and approved at the previous meeting.

It was agreed that member states shall exchange information and experiences about frameworks and framework agreements for IT products prepared or which shall be prepared to take advantage and make the best use of them to conclude a collective e-procurement procedure at the level of the gulf states.

During the meeting, the proposal was also put forward for having a website for the gulf e-government committee. It was proposed by the United Arab Emirates with the aim to strengthening the process of communication for e-government programs among the GCC. The committee approved the proposal, which would contribute to the exchange of successful experiences and joint coordination to implement joint projects.

The criteria for evaluating e-government award at its second meeting to be held later this year was also agreed. It was decided that Kuwait would prepare the criteria within two weeks and update the five branches of the award and the final version shall be submitted to member states for review.

It may be recalled that Bahrain proposed the gulf conference for the e-government during the first meeting of the heads of e-government authorities and programs in GCC countries, which was held in Bahrain to exchange experiences and successful projects among GCC countries.

The next meeting of GCC heads of e-government authorities and programs is scheduled to be held in the United Arab Emirates during May 2011.