The Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Communications and Information Technology Regulatory Authority, Dr. Khaled Al-Zamil, affirmed that the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries occupy leading global positions in various sectors, particularly the telecommunications sector, which reflects the fruits of the significant efforts exerted by the GCC nations.
Dr. Al-Zamil said in a statement to the Kuwait News Agency (KUNA) on Wednesday, following the meetings of the ministerial committees for postal services, telecommunications, and information technology in the GCC countries, and the honoring ceremony for the winners of the Digital Government Award, that the Council is keen to develop the fields of telecommunications and digital transformation in line with the rapid global developments.
He pointed to the important topics discussed during the meetings, including digital transformation and the role of the Digital Cooperation Organization in supporting it, as well as the construction of the digital space and its importance in technological advancement, adding that the GCC countries have already started identifying areas of cooperation and participation in space-related technologies.
He praised the outstanding projects and initiatives that participated in the GCC Digital Government Award, which demonstrated commendable digital achievements, whether at the individual level or within Gulf government institutions, reflecting a spirit of positive competition and constructive cooperation.
He stated that the award, which was held for the second time after a hiatus of nearly seven years due to the COVID-19 pandemic, represents a launchpad for the joint digital work of the GCC. He also expressed his gratitude to all the member states for their great efforts and initiatives related to this award.
For her part, Acting Director General of the Central Agency for Information Technology, Najat Ibrahim, said in a similar statement to KUNA that Kuwait's hosting of the sixth edition of the GCC Digital Government Award represents an important milestone in the path of Gulf digital transformation and embodies the mutual trust among the GCC countries in enhancing technical integration and exchanging digital expertise.
Ibrahim added that the award aims to promote a culture of excellence and innovation in the government sector and to encourage entities to adopt optimal digital practices that align with both GCC and international standards. She noted that the current edition witnessed broad competition among government entities in areas including: Best Integrated Digital Service, Best Initiative for Building Government Capabilities, Best Digital Awareness Game, in addition to initiatives promoting digital sustainability.
She confirmed that the judging panel was carefully formed to ensure the highest standards of transparency, fairness, and integrity. A judge was selected from each GCC country, in addition to the head of the judging committee from the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, to ensure impartiality and credibility in evaluating entries and selecting winning projects.
She explained that nominations were received through designated liaison officers appointed by each GCC country in coordination with the Central Agency, as it is the authority responsible for the digital transformation portfolio in Kuwait. She pointed out that the Digital Government Award is one of the main initiatives within the shared digital transformation portfolio of the GCC countries, overseen by the GCC General Secretariat as part of the unified digital strategy.
Meanwhile, the Director General of the National Statistics Center in Qatar, Ahmed Al-Obaidli, told KUNA that the Center's win of the award for Best Initiative in the Field of Open Data for the project “Empowering National Transparency… The Open Data Platform" represents the outcome of successfully implementing the National Data and Statistics Strategy launched last year.
Al-Obaidli explained that the initiative aims to enhance the use of open data to support innovation, evidence-based policy-making, and informed decision-making in various areas of development and investment. He emphasized that such awards serve as a strong incentive and additional motivation to continue efforts toward achieving national goals and enhancing institutional excellence.