India, whose highly trained team of experts work in the global IT industry, is an ideal partner for Bahrain in promoting its e-government initiatives, said the newly-appointed Minister of State for Cabinet Affairs and president of the Central Informatics Organisation (CIO), Shaikh Ahmed bin Ateyatalla Al Khalifa. He stressed the importance of strengthening the IT ties between the two countries at a meeting with the visiting Kerala Minister for Water Resources, Forests and Parliamentary Affairs, Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan at his office in Juffair.
Shaikh Ahmed, who is also the chairman of the National Geographical Information Systems (GIS) committee, recalled the contributions of Indian experts working with CIO for several years in developing Bahrain's IT infrastructure.
"We are now in the process of developing the most sophisticated e-government projects," he said.
"India, which is known for its globally recognised IT resources, can contribute substantially towards the success of our future projects."
Shaikh Ahmed said the successful official visit of Prime Minister Shaikh Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa to India in January last year opened a new chapter in Indo-Bahrain relationship.
"We are now exploring various new avenues of co-operation with India, under the directives of the Prime Minister," he said.
"One of the key areas of co-operation will be in the field of tourism."
Shaikh Ahmed urged the Kerala government to develop special packages to attract more tourists from Bahrain and other Gulf countries to Kerala, which is known as "God's own country".
He praised the contributions of Indian nationals, from workers to professionals, in the nation-building process in Bahrain and other Gulf countries.
"The booming economy as well as the multi-storey towers and infrastructure projects coming up in Bahrain stand testimony to the hard work put in by Indian nationals," said Shaikh Ahmed.
Mr Radhakrishnan thanked the Bahrain government for its patronage to the Indian community's activities.
"We are proud to be a partner in Bahrain's development process," he added.
"We are keen to develop joint venture projects with Bahrain, which will be mutually beneficial to both countries."
The meeting was attended by Indian Embassy second secretary R Raghunathan, officials of Adoor Association and community leaders.
The visiting minister extended an invitation to Shaikh Ahmed to visit Kerala.
Mr Radhakrishnan was in Bahrain to officially open the Adoor Association.
The association, headed by Raju Kallumpuram, was opened by him in the presence of Indian Ambassador Balkrishna Shetty at the Palace Inn Hotel on Sunday.
The minister also opened the Kerala Development seminar, organised by the Indian Overseas Cultural Congress (IOCC), at the Palace Inn Hotel last night. Mr Radhakrishnan will meet Labour Minister Dr Majeed Al Alawi before leaving Bahrain tonight.
Autor: Soman Baby
Quelle: Gulf Daily News, 04.10.2005
