Al Qaed welcomed the committee, made up of representatives of ministries and governmental entities, emphasizing the importance of their role in efficiently executing infrastructure and services-related projects, and serving as a platform for the exchange of information among public sector entities.
The committee’s agenda included a framework and implementation plan for a geospatial strategy for the Kingdom, Bahrain’s fundamental data themes, and the role of specialized entities in reviewing and finalizing those themes and examining the extent of Bahrain’s geospatial readiness.
The meeting also discussed a roadmap presented by the committee, which is built on the pillars of information governance, technology utilization, and the availability of human resources qualified to work in infrastructure, communications, and other sectors that contribute to bridging the spatial geography digital divide and improving public standards of living.
The committee covered a number of high priority initiatives, most notable among them the adoption of policies and standards for Geospatial data, the development of technical solutions to organize trial holes, infrastructure data, and capacity building through training.
The committee also decided to work on setting standards and policies for one-time drilling for all authorities specialized in infrastructure, as well as adopting fundamental data, with a provision that the committee’s next meeting would study the initiatives and set implementation timelines.
The National Committee for Geospatial Information Governance was formed following Resolution (15) for the year 2017 issued by the Prime Minister, HRH Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa. The committee proposes policies and national strategic plans to develop the GIS sector, sets relevant specifications and standards, determines the responsibilities and ownership rights of each entity, and coordinates and gathers information to maintain quality and accuracy, ensuring that information is kept up to date and preventing its duplication.
Some of the most important tasks assigned to the committee include the development of strategic policies and plans that contribute to the advancement of the geospatial information sector and the enhancement of system and data security, as well as capacity building and knowledge exchange. This is in addition to its role in utilizing geospatial information and empowering leaders to take appropriate decisions, thereby helping to improve the performance of ministries and public and private institutions in the Kingdom.