COUNTRY FOCUS : BAHRAIN

KPMG estimated that Bahrain was 28 % more cost-effective than the rest of GCC in terms of ICT costs due to cheaper workforce , rent and Internet .

The iGA operates three business lines : digital transformation , operations and governance , and statistics and population registry . Through these lines , it seeks to make Bahrain one of the leading countries in providing smart government .

ICT skills and entrepreneurship

Oracle has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Labour Fund Tamkeen to open a dedicated Oracle Engineering Centre in Bahrain . Through this collaboration , Oracle will offer technical training and certification to Bahrainis with the aim to strengthen Bahrain ’ s ICT talent pool and employ local talent in this field to drive digital innovation and growth . This initiative will also help meet the growing demand for Oracle Cloud solutions in the Gulf region .

The MoU with Oracle aligns with Tamkeen ’ s 2024 strategic priorities : to increase economic participation through employment opportunities for new market entrants , to expand career development opportunities available to the Bahraini workforce , and to further develop the private sector by supporting enterprises to drive impact and sustainable development in the economy . and implementing digital strategies for government services , and recommending relevant legislation , policies , and standards .

The iGA works closely with other government agencies to enhance services and national systems . It focuses on advancing digital infrastructure , leading Bahrain ' s transition to cloud computing , managing government network operations , and overseeing IT governance across the public sector .

The iGA oversees Bahrain ’ s national statistics strategy , acting as the central authority for managing population registry data , addresses , identity services , and birth and death registrations , and providing official statistics and surveys for various sectors in Bahrain .

As part of the agreement , Oracle and Tamkeen will also collaborate to launch Oracle certification programmes , supported by Tamkeen , to help develop and qualify Bahraini talent needed for the Oracle Engineering Hub . This initiative will also help supply local technology talent to Oracle partners establishing engineering and services hubs in Bahrain , further strengthening Bahrain ' s position as a destination for technology innovation and investment .

According to Oxford Business Group , Bahrain has one of the fastest start-up ecosystem growth rates in the region , boasting a 46 % CAGR in the number of new companies from 2020-23 . This growth is tied to a range of benefits for founders , including 100 % foreign ownership , zero taxes and targeted regulatory support . Moreover , almost 60 % of the workforce is under 30 , translating into a technology-savvy pool of native talent .

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