NXP to involve in GOI's issue of Electronic Passport project

Bangalore, May 18 (UNI) The NXP, one of the world's leading semiconductor company, was keen to involve itself in the Union Government's ambitious E-Passport project which is likely to be crystalised soon, Company President and CEO Frans Van Houten said today.

Addressing newsmen here, he said that the Center has decided to replace the present manual issue of Passports with e-passports. Over 40 million passport issued manually so far and over 1.5 to 2 million issued every year and NXP has shown inclination to support the project.

Mr Houten said that Union government had dialogue with NXP as well as with other players on the project and the pilot project was expected to be put in place in 2008.

He said that standardsation of the issue of e-passport project was in the process. Eighty five per cent of the countries which have already introduced e-passport system have employed NXP solutions.

Elaborating more on the issue, Mr Houten said that to begin with e-passport for Diplomatic and Officials would be issued before being introduced for General public.

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