Kosovo contracts Giesecke+Devrient for biometric smart ID cards

Giesecke & Devrient will manufacture Kosovo’s new smart ID cards, which will contain biometric data and support ICAO and EU standards.

“In issuing contactless smart ID cards, the Republic of Kosovo is following the German model – giving its citizens a highly secure, multifunctional document featuring cutting-edge technology,” Hans Wolfgang Kunz, Head of the Government Solutions business unit at G&D said. “In addition to offering the highest levels of security and convenience, the new card paves the way for Kosovars to access user-friendly e-government and e-business services.”

The company says it’s responsible for the entire project, including all the system components necessary for the documentation process. The Kosovar government will begin issuing smart ID cards to citizens by the end of this year.

The new card will contain embedded biometric fingerprint and facial data and will also include a host of other applications, including a travel application as well as an ID function. Contactless data transfer is encoded according to the Password Authenticated Connection Establishment security protocol developed by Germany’s Federal Office for Information Security.

According to Giesecke & Devrient, it has also recently been contracted by the Kosovar government to manufacture the country’s new biometric passports.

Reported previously in BiometricUpdate.com, Giesecke & Devrient will also supply Mexico with new biometric voter identification cards. 

Article Topics

e-ID  |  facial recognition  |  fingerprint  |  Giesecke & Devrient (G+D)