MALAYSIA'S IRIS CLINCHES EGYPTIAN TENDER

DUBAI, Sept 26 (Bernama) -- Malaysia's Iris Corporation Bhd has
clinched a contract for the supply, delivery and maintenance of equipment to upgrade Egypt's national identity (ID) card production centre.

The deal will allow the facility to produce contactless ID smart cards.


According to a statement, the agreement was signed in Cairo last month
between Deputy Minister for Central Status Organisation (CSO) General Moustafa
Rady on behalf of Egypt's Interior Ministry, and Iris managing director Tan Say
Jim.

The national ID card of Egypt is currently made of polycarbonate plastic
card with security design produced by CSO since 1998.

"With the introduction of a contactless microprocessor chip in the ID card,
its security will be enhanced while, at the same time, paving the way for
additional potential services to be extended to the card holder through its
multi-applications capability," the statement said.

The contract includes, among others, consultancy, installation,
maintenance, support and service as well as the transfer of technology and
know-how for the production of national ID cards based on contactless smart
card technologies.

Iris will also supply materials needed for the initial production of
100,000 contactless smart cards, the statement said.

The contract was awarded through a tender in 2007 and Iris was among three
bidders shortlisted. The others were from Europe.

Iris incorporated Iris-Egypt L.L.C on May 29 this year to carry out the
business of providing products, services, maintenance and solutions in the area
of trusted identity security documents, biometrics, information and
communication technologies in Egypt and its neighbouring region.

Meanwhile, Cairo-based Moustafa Samaha has been appointed managing director
of Iris-Egypt.

-- BERNAMA