Government Summit enhances its position as global platform for exchanging knowledge by partnering with UN and other international organisations

The Second Government Summit, which will be held from 10 to 12 February, 2014, hosted the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia’s (ESCWA) Arab e-Government Programme Managers meeting, during which the participants discussed a number of pilot initiatives to be launched at the Summit. The meeting also highlighted ESCWA’s significant contributions to the exchange of knowledge and development of e-services efficiently and effectively.

Welcoming the participants to the meeting, His Excellency Mohamed Nasser Al Ghanim, 
Director General of Telecommunications Regulatory Authority, UAE, said: “The Government Summit is an ideal platform to take forward the mission of establishing efficient e-services across the region. The United Nations and the Government Summit share the same vision on achieving people’s happiness. In this effort, the UAE is committed to share its experiences on the adoption of smart technology and innovation to provide enhanced delivery of government services.” 

Dr. Haidar Fraihat, ESCWA’s Director of Information and Communication Technology Division, said the meeting discussed the possibility of launching of Government Electronic and Mobile Services (GEMS) Maturity Index and the launch of the Board of e-government Programme for Arab Directors.

He pointed out that the decision of the organization to set up the ESCWA meeting in the UAE and in collaboration with the Government Summit is in line with the United Nations’ efforts to strengthen Arab cooperation and regional development in the area of information and communications technology services provided by governments to citizens.

He stressed that the Government Summit offered an effective platform for improving government services in all sectors and transferring global expertise to the region as well as strengthening the exchange of knowledge regionally and globally.

The ESCWA meeting with e-government managers in Arab governments discussed the launch of a major e-government initiative and sought to build on previous and ongoing efforts made by ESCWA to contribute to knowledge sharing and development of effective and efficient e-Government Services.