- Zetes to provide know-how in production of eID Card
- Contract of strategic importance for international development of Zetes’ People ID activities; acknowledgement of Zetes’ specific know-how outside the EU
Brussels (Belgium), Tel Aviv, 1st December 2008 –The MOI of Israel has selected the consortium leaded by HP for the Telem tender to produce the Israeli e-ID cards. HP has partnered with Zetes, Gemalto and Pitkit (local printing house) for this project, estimated at around 68 million Dollars for the consortium. Zetes, (Euronext Brussels: ZTS), a leading pan-European supplier of solutions and services for the automatic identification of goods and people, will feature as a sub-contractor of Hewlett Packard (HP). In total, this contract will generate for Zetes several $ millions in terms of Gross Margin over a period of 6 years.
Telem After European Model
The Israeli authorities produced very detailed project specifications for the production of the electronic ID cards. The project was denominated ‘Telem’ and aims for an extremely secure electronic ID document for communication with the authorities and several public services.
Zetes will feature as the know-how partner of prime contractor HP. In September 2006, both companies jointly tendered in line with international standards. The final result is almost a facsimile of the European eID card, like that of Belgium or Portugal, two pioneering countries on that front.
Zetes is in charge of supervising the complete production and personalisation of the cards. To that end, the company has joined forces with a number of other contractors, like Allami Nyomda, a Hongarian specialist of polycarbonate cards with whom Zetes has a strong relationship, and Pitkit, an Israeli specialist in secured printing. The Israeli eID card will be manufactured at Pitkit premises. In order to do so, Pitkit will extend and rebuild part of its premises and hire a number of new workers.
“Riki Aviv, Consulting & Integration Country Manager at HP Israël: “We are satisfied with the co-operation with Zetes. They have played a principal role as our know-how partner in the development of the proposition together with Gemalto. We are looking forward to working together in the coming years.”
Alain Wirtz, CEO of Zetes : “The Israeli authorities drafted very complex and detailed project specifications. We are happy to be appointed know-how partner for the turnkey eID card project, from the production of the card, and putting the personal data on the chip, through to the development of middleware software for data control and application access.”
Israel Follows Belgium and Portugal
Zetes has won various people ID projects over recent years. As to eID, the projects in Belgium and Portugal stand out. The Israeli deal is the first Zetes eID card project outside the EU. Additionally, Zetes has also gained credit with biometric enrolment registration projects in Congo, Togo, Cape Verde and Burundi. In 2008, Zetes has also won an important contract for the production of the passport in Côte d’Ivoire. For this project, the company opened its first African subsidiary.
“The Israeli project is another proof that Zetes is a world leader in the field of people ID”, says Alain Wirtz, CEO of Zetes. “We have the knowledge and the experience to deliver turnkey solutions to governments, both concerning electronic ID cards and ID technology, and biometric security systems, automatic fingerprint ID systems, etc.”
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