The move is in line with the standard issued by the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO).
The signing ceremony between the Immigration Department, a local company, ITPSS, and a German company, Giesecke & Devrient (G&D), was witnessed by Minister of Home Affairs, Pehin Orang Kaya Johan Pahlawan Dato Seri SetiaAwg Hj Adanan Begawan Mudim Pehin Siraja Khatib Dato Seri Setia Awg Hj Mohd Yussof.
The signing took place at The Rizqun International Hotel in Gadong. Deputy Minister of Home Affairs, Pehin Orang Kaya Dewa Pahlawan Dato Seri Setia Awg Hj Dam Awg Hj Ibrahim and several senior government ministers were also present.
The project, costing BND$7,148,885.20, includes supply, delivery, installation, testing, commissioning and maintenance of the e-passport system and the production, supply and delivery of the Secure Delivery Services of Biometric Passport (e-passport).
Director of Immigration, Awg Zainal Abidin Dato Paduka Hj Ahmad, said the execution of the project is in line with the current need of e-passports and to ensure that the level of identification and security of travel documents are secure.
This e-passport will also include features so that the level of security and technical specifications as well as its characteristics is in line with the standard and recommendation outlined by ICAO for biometric passports.
Apart from security, the director said, it will also enhance other aspects such as convenience as public members will be able to save time passing through immigration posts and enjoy visa exemption to specific countries.
The department, he added, in its continual efforts to upgrade the security characteristics of the nation's passports and at the same time enhance facilities to the public, also believes that the safety of a passport relies on the attitude and responsibility of the holder in using it while bearing in mind that it is an important government document that carries the nation's image and identity.
G&D, which was selected from several other companies that were invited to participate in the tender, has been supplying passports to the country since 1993. It has been assessed as the company that fulfils technical specification needs forwarded by the e-Passport Technical Committee.
The company has been entrusted to carry out the project and meet the requirements of the contract agreement as it has been found capable of structuring and providing high quality safety features required for biometric passports.
ITPSS, which has also been awarded the department's Border Control Expansion and System Migration Toward e-Government projects, has been given the responsibility to run the supply, delivery, installation, testing, commissioning and maintenance of the e-passport system.
The e-passport project will cover the registration method system at counters using finger scanners and also the printing of passport system that possesses various security features.
The system will use a printing machine featuring laser technology and facilities to insert personalised chips to make passports biometric.
The department will also be supplied with the Public Key Directory controlled by ICAO, which will enable the department to exchange information, read information from the chip and confirm and ensure the passports are genuine.
The Immigration Department believes projects such as these will increase the nation's level of security.
Signing for the two projects were Director of Immigration and National Registration Department for the Brunei Government, Mr Michael Nissen for G&D and Awg Shamsul Bahri Kamis for ITPSS.
Deputy Director of National Registration Awg Hj Md Yunos Bolhassan, Awg Hj Abdul Saman Hj Ahmad (G&D) and Dyg Titi Sulastri Hj Timbang (ITPSS) meanwhile signed as witnesses for the signing of the contract.
Autor(en)/Author(s): Lyna Mohamad
Quelle/Source: Brunei Direct, 16.02.2007
