A secure integrated e-government network for Qatar is in the works, and officials from the Ministry of Interior (MoI) and the Supreme Council of Information and Communication Technology (ictQatar) and media personalities in the country discussed it in detail in a forum yesterday at the Millennium Hotel. Speakers at the forum underscored the collaborative efforts between the MoI and ictQatar to develop the comprehensive government network that will ensure that information being shared and sent electronically between government agencies, businesses and citizens is secure. An editor from Al Arab newspaper, for his part, discussed the principles of e-content management and its significance in the light of new media like the Internet, and social networking, which has already made a big impact on societies. The programme to create and build a secure e-government network was announced on May 25 this year. The network will allow Qatar’s government agencies to be linked together over a secure communications platform, allowing for improved data sharing and enhanced security for e-services. “The e-government network is a major step in improving data communications across the government sector and making Qatar a networked nation. Not only will the government be able to work more efficiently with this network in place, but it will also allow the government to better serve its customers - the people who live and work in Qatar each day,” said Hassan Al Sayed, Executive Director of the Government Information Management Office (GIMO) at ictQatar. “The government network will standardise connectivity between government agencies and allow them to utilise higher bandwidths than are currently available and will also allow them to select the service levels they receive for various programmes and initiatives,” said Engineer Ahmad Al Kuwari, Government IT Platforms Manager, GIMO, at ictQatar. Some of the primary sectors that will benefit from the government network are the health and education sectors. Information will be sent between hospitals and from doctor to doctor much faster through the network, allowing for critical time to be saved when treating patients, all the while maintaining patient confidentiality. Schools will also be better connected to each other and to the parents through the network. Additionally, many of the e-government services currently available through Hukoomi and other government websites will be hosted on a common network infrastructure, allowing for a more responsive and cohesive online government. All e-services will be delivered in accordance with ictQatar’s government ICT standards. http://thepeninsulaqatar.com/Display_news.asp?section=Local_News&subsection=Qatar+News&month=July2009&file=Local_News2009070512135.xml

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