MANAMA: Bahrain has won the UN e-Government Survey Award in the "Outstanding Performers in the Top 20". category

"Bahrain's e-Government portal has won in the category of "Improving Transparency, Accountability and Responsiveness in Public Service," Deputy Prime Minister and Supreme Committee for Information and Communication Technology chairman Shaikh Mohammed bin Mubarak Al Khalifa said.

He was speaking as he patronised the opening ceremony of the Bahrain International e-Government Forum 2010.

The event, at the Isa Cultural Centre, Juffair, was attended among others by Minister of State for Cabinet Affairs and Shaikh Ahmed bin Ateyatala Al Khalifa, ministers, diplomats, senior officials and Shura Council president Ali Saleh Al Saleh.

The forum, which gets under way today at the Bahrain International Exhibition and Convention Centre, is being organised by the Bahrain eGovernment Authority in collaboration with the Bahrain Society of Engineers, the Institute of Project Management and the Bahrain Internet Society.

The National Institutional ICT Infrastructure Project has also won an award in the category of "Advancing Knowledge Management in Government".

Shaikh Mohammed also outlined Bahrain's landmark strides in promoting e-Government reach.

Citing updated figures, he said that the number of e-services topped 151 out of a targeted 200. The number of mobile phone services also rose to 45 out of an overall 55. A total of 15 e-service centres and 35 e-kiosks have also been installed countrywide to date.

Shaikh Mohammed also announced the launch of the new national e-Government Strategy for the next six years.

He honoured the winners of the 2010 e-Government Excellence Awards.

The ministries of Municipalities and Agriculture, Health and Works have clinched the best e-Service Award.

The ministries of Interior and Works and Eskan Bank have won the best e-Developed Ministry Award.

The best e-project was awarded the Social Development Ministry, the Electricity and Water Authority and the Interior Ministry. The e-Economy Award went to the Industry and Commerce Ministry, The Economic Development Board, Gulf Air and Bahrain Duty Free.

Bahrain Institute of Public Administration, Toot translation engine, The Kingdom University-Bahrain and the Arab Open University won the best e-Learning Award, while Shura Council and the Culture and Information Ministry clinched the best e-Content prize. CrediMax won the top prize for best supplier of technical solutions.