"Bahrainis will be able to travel to the UAE, Oman and Qatar using the card," he said, noting that arrangements for travelling with the smart card to Kuwait and Saudi Arabia will be completed soon.
He said that all was set for the e-gateway and that the beginning of its operation was just a matter of time.
"Bahrainis will be able to get through e-gateways without checking with counter employees whether for travelling or banking and other projects will be announced soon," he said.
The minister said there would be coordination with the Kingdom's Labour Market Regulatory Authority to record information on foreign workers as soon as they arrive at the airport.
"They will have their photographs, signatures and fingerprints taken and as soon as their health insurance information is confirmed, a card will be issued to them," he said.
Speaking on whether the use of the Smart Card will be mandatory in ministries, Shaikh Ahmed said they will be introduced gradually and that employees must be trained for that.
"Information recorded on the card is essential but does not cover everything," he said.
"The card has files for a number of ministries," he said, adding that no ministry could access the information related to another.
He said the e-government will be strongly represented at leading international exhibitions and conferences.
"The first of these participations will be in the upcoming Gitex Dubai," he said.
Shaikh ahmed also said an intensive campaign will be launched to spread the use of the Internet and computers in homes.
The campaign is aimed at increasing this to 60 per cent in three years from the current 33 per cent, he said.
Quelle/Source: Zawya, 13.08.2007
