Latvia set for Q3 ePassport rollout

The Latvian government has awarded German technology group Giesecke & Devrient (G&D) a contract to produce 1.1 million ePassports over the next five years.

Under the terms of the agreement, G&D will also supply all the necessary systems for data capture and processing, personalisation and issuance of the documents. The first ePassports will be issued to Latvian citizens during the third quarter of 2007.

G&D says this latest deal extends its relationship with the Latvian government. Since 1991, the company has been supplying the state with travel documents and – in conjunction with the Bank of Latvia – with bank notes.