A deal to supply the equipment and technology to issue one million such smart cards was signed here yesterday between two foreign suppliers and Qatar’s Ministry of Interior.
With these new features, the cardholder will be able to access e-government services and perform transactions in a simple and secure manner. Using a smart card reader connected to their PCs or laptops, residents can use them to perform several functions such as request official documents.
The NIS project will see the issue of over one million such smart cards to the residents of the country.
One of the deals for the NIS project was signed between the MoI and Axalto, a leading manufacturer of microprocessor cards, and the other with Daon. While Axalto will deliver fingerprint match-on cards, associated readers and services, Daon, in partnership with ProtechT and Qatar Project Group International, will provide the core biometric software infrastructure.
Colonel Saleh Al Kubaisi, Head of IT Department, MoI said: “Worldwide concerns about security, border control and financial crimes are prompting governments to fight identity theft attempts. Qatar is no exception. But it is the strong will of our government to use a technology that can also improve our citizens’ lives and contribute to the modernisation of our administration. The smart card technology is the best means to meet all these needs. This is a major step forward for the MoI in the implementation of its e-Security Strategy."
Quelle/Source: The Peninsula Online, 18.05.2006
