Makki Launches Seminar on the Impact of Service Reengineering and Digital Transformation in Lebanon

Minister of State for Administrative Development Affairs Dr. Fadi Makki inaugurated a seminar titled "The Impact of Service Reengineering: Digital Transformation as a Lever for Efficiency and Financial Impact," organized by his office over two days at the Radisson Blu Martinez Hotel to introduce the fourth edition of the Sharjah Award for Public Finance.

The opening ceremony was attended by the Ambassador of the United Arab Emirates to Lebanon Fahd Al-Kaabi, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Sharjah Award for Public Finance Dr. Waleed Al-Sayegh, Director General of the Arab Organization for Administrative Development Dr. Nasser Al-Qahtani, Secretary General of the Award Rashid Al-Qasimi, members of the Board of Trustees, and representatives from ministries, administrations, and public institutions.

The seminar coincides with the tenth anniversary of the establishment of the Sharjah Award for Public Finance, an Arab award that honors government institutions and individual talents excelling in public financial management, from resource planning and revenue collection to expenditure and oversight. It aims to highlight experiences that improve the use of public resources, enhance transparency and accountability, and exchange successful practices among Arab countries. The award was established in 2016 through cooperation between the Government of Sharjah and the Arab Organization for Administrative Development affiliated with the League of Arab States.

The fourth cycle for the years 2026–2027 includes twenty-four categories, evenly distributed between institutional and individual categories. Areas of excellence include electronic financial systems, project management, financial innovation, government procurement, oversight, auditing, and risk management, alongside honoring talents in financial management, budgeting, accounting, and other fields. These categories allow Lebanese public entities and their employees to showcase their achievements and compete with Arab experiences in developing public financial management.

Makki thanked the Emirate of Sharjah, the organizers of the award, and the Arab Organization for Administrative Development for their initiative to encourage excellence and innovation, expressing hope to benefit from the experience of Sharjah and the UAE in digital transformation, developing government services, and enhancing financial efficiency.

He affirmed that "the success of digital transformation is not measured by the number of platforms, but by the time and money it saves, and the efficiency, transparency, and trust it achieves," explaining that "technology helps reduce waste, improve revenue collection, enhance spending efficiency and oversight, and make data-driven decisions, while simplifying procedures, automating transactions, and traceable electronic payments contribute to reducing opportunities for arbitrariness and bribery."

He stressed that "real transformation requires change management, leadership, and a new organizational culture," saying: "There is no point in transferring complex paper procedures to an electronic screen without simplifying or eliminating them when necessary."

He presented the "Reconstructing State Administrations and Institutions 2030" project, which focuses on updating structures and governance, reducing duplication, developing a human resources strategy, reengineering public services, and digital transformation. He referred to "work on developing the 'Dawlati' platform to be a unified national gateway for government services, including linking administrations, simplifying procedures, and reducing visits and required documents."

He affirmed that "the citizen should not transfer information between state institutions; rather, institutions should communicate among themselves to serve him," noting that "every duplication, unnecessary procedure, or delay imposes costs on the state, the citizen, and the economy, and the goal is not only a less costly state, but a more capable and effective one."

The seminar allows participants to learn about the award's criteria, conditions, and nomination mechanisms. Applications are submitted electronically, accompanied by evidence and documents proving achievements and results obtained, according to the conditions of each category. Participation is free, and applications for the fourth cycle will continue to be accepted until December 31, 2026.

It is worth mentioning that the seminar activities continue until tomorrow, the 27th of the current month, to exchange experiences and discuss ways to employ digital transformation and service reengineering to improve government performance and achieve sustainable savings.