BSV Global Blockchain Convention puts the spotlight on blockchain for government data and applications

For a long time, private companies have been pioneering the integration of blockchain technology in virtually all other sectors of the economy. However, several governments have dipped their toes in the blockchain in the last couple of years, with the Middle East slowing down. At the BSV Global Blockchain Convention, four panelists took the stage to share how they have pushed the blockchain for public applications.

One of the panelists was Saeed Mohammed Ali Alhebsi, an adviser to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) Department of Human Resources and Emiratization. In this position, he has played a key role in getting the authorities to continue exploring blockchain technology and has been crucial to BSV’s growing popularity in both the public and private sectors.

The ministry oversees the labor industry in the UAE, a country with more than 800,000 companies and a workforce of more than 7 million people.

Moderated by BSV Blockchain Association founding president Jimmy Nguyen, the panel also had:

Governments around the world need blockchain technology more than any other sector, Vasilisa told the public. They handle very large data sizes, and for them a data breach will be much more catastrophic than it is for a private device.

Authorities are looking for blockchain for four things – transparency, efficiency, security and scale.

Ahmed has already spearheaded a pilot project that saw the Saudi government integrate the blockchain into its operations. He worked with the government to find a solution that could speed up the issuance of permits to visitors to the country.

“A permit that used to be issued within a month, we reduced it to 20 minutes,” Ahmed said.

Anjum has also been involved in the integration of the blockchain by the Saudi government, with its startup InvoiceMate initiating a partnership with the Saudi Agricultural and Livestock Investment Company to make invoicing efficient, and later purchasing and other functions.

InvoiceMate also collaborated with other Pakistani government departments, including the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Information Technology Board.

“At first we did not target the authorities, but somehow, [as fellow panelist stated]the people who need trust the most are governments, “noted Anjum.

Why the government and blockchain fit perfectly

One of the governments that is a leader in blockchain integration is the UAE. The country announced the UAE Blockchain strategy in 2018 and has been working to bring 50% of the processes to the chain since then. The Human Resource Department has chosen the BSV Blockchain Association as its knowledge partner, and together they intend to train over 1000 professionals in the blockchain. As Alhebsi revealed, around 500 have already been trained.

“The next step will be to implement the best applications as a ministry through our departments in HR, finance and the other main departments, which will save time and effort and make our business more efficient,” he told the audience.

The UAE and Saudi Arabia may be in the lead, but Ahmed believes others will follow soon. He noted that governments are interested in technologies that add value to citizens, and blockchain ranks high on this list. The authorities want to integrate the technology for smart cities, identity management and more.

But for blockchain to reach its potential, regulation is the key. Ahmed has spoken to several leaders in the Middle East to steer them toward enabling regulations. He believes that education will also play a significant factor in this, and notes the BSV Academy-Saudi Digital Academy partnership as one of the key measures against this.

The panelists agreed that startups have a great opportunity when it comes to developing blockchain applications for authorities.

For Anjum, it is simply “metavers, metavers, metavers.” This virtual world will make interactions between citizens and the authorities more interactive and engaging in the near future. It will also fit perfectly into the digital economy.

Ahmed believes the gold mine lies in data. “Every startup should look at a data solution,” he told the audience.

Watch BSV Global Blockchain Convention Dubai 2022 day 1 here:

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