Cetis ePassport production hits 8,000 in first month

In the month since their launch on 28 August 2006, domestic passport producer Cetis has personalized 8,000 in Slovenian passport booklets.

An interesting fact about the new Slovenian biometric-based passport – and in stark contrast to most other ePassports being issued around the world – is that it is cheaper than its predecessor, costing just Euro 36 for a standard sized booklet.

According to Simona Potočnik, General Director at Cetis, this was possible because the passport is using significant in-house know how, rather than relying on outside expertise.

Gemalto is supplying secure polycarbonate devices to Cetis, including a secure operating system with advanced cryptographic features running on a large capacity contactless chip. The chip supplier for the Slovenian passport is NXP Semiconductors.

As well as this passport project, Cetis also mentioned in a recent news release a second project – this time producing a digital tachograph – although no further details were supplied as to the scope of the project.