KUWAIT: Kuwait’s population boasts a mobile subscription rate of 158%, with 85.2% of residents active on social media, stated Abdullah Al-Ajmi, acting chairman of the Communications and Information Technology Regulatory Authority (CITRA).

Speaking on behalf of Minister of State for Communications Omar Al-Omar, Al-Ajmi made these remarks at the 11th E-Government Forum, themed “Digital Government and Integrated Service Strategy.” The three-day forum gathers participants from the government and the private sector.

Al-Ajmi further highlighted that LTE network coverage encompasses 100% of the population, with 99.7% of residents connected to the Internet. Additionally, 5G coverage now reaches 97% of the population, reflecting Kuwaiti society’s readiness for digital transformation and strong adoption of integrated e-government solutions

He emphasized that this shift towards comprehensive government services will not only ease workloads for government entities and reduce pressure on the state budget but also enhance service delivery for Kuwait’s citizens and residents. This transformation, Al-Ajmi added, aims to strengthen the government’s capacity for effective, sustainable planning and elevate Kuwait’s competitive standing on both regional and global scales.

Additionally, Al-Ajmi noted CITRA’s role in establishing the infrastructure and data assets necessary to license cloud computing service providers and protect information privacy - key foundations for achieving a comprehensive e-government system.

Echoing these sentiments, Bader Al-Salman, chairman of the Kuwait Union of Engineering Offices and Consultancy Houses, remarked that the forum’s focus represents a critical step towards achieving fully automated and integrated government services. He noted that such progress will eradicate the need for manual operations and in-person visits to government offices for information exchange and documentation.

Al-Salman emphasized that this transition would enhance productivity and efficiency, leading to time and cost savings for both the government and individuals. He also highlighted the significant potential of artificial intelligence and called for collaboration with private-sector experts and academia to advance educational programs, ensuring that solutions are comprehensive and aligned with global standards. He stressed the importance of protecting data assets and maintaining the privacy of citizens and residents.

In a similar statement, Fatima Al-Qallaf, Head of the Partnerships and Events Department at the Central Agency for Information Technology explained that the true benefits of developing the e-government system over the past years lie in “moving confidently into the future to occupy a prominent position among neighboring countries and the developed world, and to provide the community with the comprehensive and advanced electronic services it deserves, which protect rights, save time and money, and assist individuals in carrying out their work and plans both within Kuwait and abroad.”