Gemalto on Sunday announced that it will be providing an end-to-end electronic passport solution for the Sultanate of Oman as part of a multi-year contract.
Applications will be issued with secure travel documents, using the latest digital security solutions, in line with Oman’s goal to provide enhanced services to its nationals, Gemalto said.
Gemalto claimed that this would speed up the passport application process, as well as helping Omani travellers at immigration control.
“Oman has been a pioneer in implementing advanced eGovernment solutions, being the first country in the GCC to issue its citizens with Gemalto electronic ID cards in 2002,” said Hisham Surakhi, Vice President for Government Programmes in the Middle East, Gemalto.
“Now, Oman is going one step further, complementing its electronic secure documents portfolio to make international travel simpler for its citizens, setting the pace in the region.”
The overall solution encompasses Gemalto’s ICAO-compliant Sealys ePassport documents, as well as a full Coesys solution suite to enrol citizens, personalise and issue secure documents. Gemalto will also provide training, support and maintenance services, according to the announcement.
Major Royal Oman Police officers will be given fixed and mobile stations to register ePassport applicants with personal information and biometric data, Gemalto said. Each passport will feature secure eTravel embedded software and a contactless microprocessor, which will contain the holder’s digital fingerprints and photograph.
“With this project, we aim at offering security and convenience to our citizens,” said Major General Dr Sulaiman Al-Harthy, Royal Oman Police. “Gemalto will support the smooth integration of the solution with the existing national registry system for eID cards.
“Gemalto has valuable experience in implementing ePassport programmes globally, and will provide us with local support through their offices in the Sultanate.”
Gemalto is contributing to more than 80 government programmes worldwide, the digital security firm said. It is supporting ePassport initiatives in such countries as Denmark, Norway, Korea, France and the United States of America, to name a few.
