Silicon Investor (SI) -- The First Internet Community

STOCKTALK

We've detected that you're using an ad content blocking browser plug-in or feature. Ads provide a critical source of revenue to the continued operation of Silicon Investor. We ask that you disable ad blocking while on Silicon Investor in the best interests of our community. If you are not using an ad blocker but are still receiving this message, make sure your browser's tracking protection is set to the 'standard' level.

Technology Stocks : Identix (IDNX) -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: steve who wrote (25346)	12/11/2003 12:07:58 PM
From: steve	Respond to of 26039

Big budget sought for 22 million smart cards Published on Dec 12, 2003 A committee in charge of "upgrading the civil-registration process" is scheduled to meet today to approve the ICT Ministry's procurement of 22 million "smart cards" and equipment so citizens can receive the new multipurpose ID cards by April 1. According to a copy of the meeting agenda obtained by The Nation, the Information and Communications Technology Ministry will request Bt1.82 billion to buy smart-card blanks at a cost of Bt82 each and another Bt291 million for smart-card equipment to be distributed to government agencies. The committee, chaired by Deputy Prime Minister Chavalit Yongchaiyudh, is set to meet this morning at Government House. The Interior Ministry noted in the meeting notice that the ICT Ministry would have to act quickly to hand over the 22 million smart cards to its Registration Administration Bureau in time to prepare new identification cards for use by April 1. The Cabinet earlier approved the new e-citizen cards containing bio-data such as health-insurance information for members of the Social Security Fund or the Bt30-healthcare scheme. The document shows that the Interior Ministry also wants the cards to contain the records of poor people who have registered to seek government assistance. The equipment requested by the ICT Ministry includes 33,198 smart-card reader-writer machines for six government agencies costing Bt33.2 million, 33,198 fingerprint reading machines for Bt132.79 million and Bt126 million to laminate the cards. The meeting is also to consider a proposal to set up a Central Civil Registration Office to act as the hub of all online databases related to civil registration. The new office is to be instructed to liaison with government agencies so citizens can use their cards to access information easily. Piyanart Srivalo nationmultimedia.com steve