His Excellency Minister Mohammad Fneich launched ‘Information Technology at the Service of the Public Sector’ workshop to lead Lebanon’s drive to modernize the Lebanese Administration. It reinforces the partnership between OMSAR and Microsoft Lebanon to build and develop the foundation for “e-government” in Lebanon. The technology showcased at this workshop demonstrates how IT can be leveraged to enhance the impact and effectiveness to elevate the Public Sector Services. The workshop was held at the Movenpick Hotel in the Presence of Microsoft Country Manager Ms. Leila Serhan, Microsoft Citizenship Director, Leading officials from OMSAR, Representatives from Ministries, leading Microsoft experts, partners and customers.
In his keynote, Minister Fneish highlighted the efforts and strategies the Ministry is implementing with the assistance of Microsoft Lebanon to improve government services and harnessing technology to facilitate access and interaction between the public administrations and citizens better services.
Leila Serhan, Microsoft Lebanon Country Manager, keynote focused on the importance of bringing the latest technologies into the public administration to increase its efficiency and productivity. Serhan emphasized the key role of ICT as an enabler of a more economically, environmentally and socially sustainable world. She further explained in her speech that according to the Global Information Technology Report, by 2020 ICT will contribute to approximately 8.7% of Global GDP and hence the Lebanese government should be ready to “reap the fruits of technology”.
Microsoft Partners from Lebanon and the region demonstrated case studies and practical application of e-government solutions. The topics presented covered different solutions including Workplace Modernization, Healthcare Solutions, Public safety and National Security, and Integrated Justice. The event was highly successful triggering in-depth discussions and an action-plan for implementation in many ministries and government organization.
“Our relationship with the government is one or cooperation and more importantly partnership and we are working very closely with them to enable them to deliver cost- effective and seamless services to their citizens” Explained Leila Serhan “ICT enables economic growth by broadening the reach of technologies such as high-speed Internet, mobile broadband etc.. and expanding these technologies itself creates growth, and makes it easier for people to interact and be more productive. We are witnessing this everyday all over the world.”
“The e-government program that OMSAR (Office of the Minister of State for Administrative Reform) is preparing highlights the importance of benefiting from the latest developments and solutions in the ICT sector that global companies like Microsoft offer.” Explained Nasser Issrawi Technical Cooperation Unit Director “this is why we hope that these companies deliver technologies and solutions within a real partnership framework that make public interest a priority and provides the foundations to secure the best return on the financial resources allocated to the e-Government Program”
