First National Conference on e-Governance and e-Services

Under the auspices of Prime Minister Dr. Salam Fayyad, the Sina Institute for Knowledge Engineering and Arab Technologies at BZU held the First National Conference on e-Governance and e-Services on 27 June 2012. The conference aimed to discuss issues related to e-governance and e-services by bringing together a large number of  legal experts and decision makers in Palestine.
 

In his opening address, BZU President, Dr. Khalil Hindi, stated that any investment, in either the knowledge sector or development sector, requires an optimal use of available resources and development of plans to maintain sustainability. He added: "There is no doubt that information technology opens channels for investment in human resources, as we at BZU contribute to building technical staff through academic education and training of public and private sectors."
 

 
Dr. Fayyad noted that the core of our achievements in recent years has been the development of institutional performance, which is a product of citizens’ increasing awareness of shaping the priorities of their direct needs, and the growing rallying around our national project manifested in a state of institutions and rule of law.
Minister of Communications and Information Technology, Dr. Safaa’ Nasir al-Din, pointed to the importance of highlighting what has been accomplished so far in building the Palestinian e-government through efforts undertaken by academics in Palestinian universities.
 

Director of the Sina Institute and Head of the Palestinian e-Government Academy, Dr. Mustafa Jarrar, addressed the benefits of electronic government and e-services. He asserted that that the provision of electronic services diminishes the impact of Israeli checkpoints and occupation measures that ghettoize the Palestinian territories, separating the West Bank and Gaza Strip.  More than 70% of Palestinians (refugees and expatriates) live in the diaspora, and thus electronic services offer a vital bridge for communication between those living abroad and institutions in Palestine, he added.
 

The conference included three sessions: the first session focused on the experience of the Dubai e-Government, chaired by the Deputy Minister of Communications and Information Technology, Engineer Suleiman Zuhairi. During this session, the President’s Adviser for Information Technology, Dr. Sabri Saidam, addressed the importance of and prospects for the application of e-government in Palestine. British expert, David Chadwick, noted best world practices of information security, while Former Minister of Communications, Dr. Mashour Abu-Daqqa, addressed real challenges facing the application of e-government.