Zetes scoops another Burundi deal

 

Zetes has signed a contract with a consortium comprising Belgian Technical Cooperation (BTC) and French firm SOFOS Consultants to deliver identification technology for a census of the Burundian military.

Under the terms of the deal, Zetes is providing technology for the biometric and biographical enrolment of soldiers, centralisation of data, elimination of duplicates, and the production of secure ID cards. The technology will be implemented within the administrative services of the Defence Ministry and the Army.

According to Zetes, this large-scale operation targets around 28,000 personnel at the Ministry of National Defence and Former Combatants, primarily the general staff, and operational national defence forces.

The project is also being closely monitored by the Ministry of Finance and Economy.

Zetes says that with it as technical partner (supported in the field by NSI), the same BTC/SOFOS Consortium, methodology and equipment were used in the country’s civil services census project carried out in May to July 2008. It adds that this approach has allowed Burundi to capitalise on its initial investment in the first project.

The census is scheduled to begin this month and will continue for three-four weeks. Following the enrolment process, each member of the military will receive a biometric ID card bearing their photo, fingerprints and other personal data.