HONG KONG--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The convergence of biometrics, global operational standards and the integration of public and private services are forging government identity technology ahead in Asia Pacific. Identity technology developers and government decision makers at CARTES in Asia conference and exhibition on 28 and 29 March will be able to see and hear about new developments in this sector. On the second day of the exhibition, there will be a full day dedicated to ID Management and eGovernment covering innovations, privacy and security issues.

With a population that reaches nearly four billion, the biometric identity industry has been going from strength to strength in Asia Pacific. In the last couple of years countries in South East Asia such as Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam have embraced technologies such as ePassports, eIDs and eVisas in a bid to communicate with their people and protect their identities. Vietnam is due to issue its first electronic passport by the end of this year and by 2014 the Philippines is expected to be the world’s sixth-largest issuer of ePassports, behind India, the US, Brazil, and Britain.

In order to facilitate interoperability across countries, the ICAO (International Civil Aviation Organization) has introduced e-passport standards: Basic Access Control (BAC) and then Supplemental Access Control (SAC). These new security standards are designed to help countries migrate from traditional paper-based travel documents and protect the passport’s data confidentiality, integrity and anti-cloning.

Isabelle Alfano, Director of CARTES events, Comexposium, said: “A new era of government biometric technology is upon us here in Asia Pacific and across the world. The concept is also changing with more functions being incorporated including social security information, driving licenses, healthcare, banking and transportation applications. And standardisation is making the technology more secure and interoperable across different countries. Visitors and exhibitors to CARTES in Asia will be able to find out about all of this and much, much more at CARTES in Asia next month.”

Present in more than 70 countries over the world, Oberthur Technologies is one of the key players in identity sector, providing secure documents and issuance systems for more than 60 government programs.

“Oberthur Technologies participates in identity document programs in Asian countries including national electronic ID cards in Cambodia, electronic Driving Licenses for Bangladesh and Passports or electronic Passports in Thailand, Philippines, Taiwan and Nepal” said Mr Cheong Chung Chin, Vice president ID division Asia Pacific. “Oberthur Technologies is glad to take part in the third session of CARTES IN ASIA exhibition to meet our customers and show our latest innovations, products and solutions expertise at our booth”.

On 28 March CARTES in Asia will also provide an insight into major trends shaping ID Management and eGovernment at their co-located conference. The ID Management and eGovernment all-day session will include speakers from Datacard, Gemalto, Global Platform, HID Global, JDSU, Keynectis, Komsco, National Security and Oberthur Technologies. The two day conference, which will bring together more than 300 high level conference attendees and over 70 keynote speakers will also cover Mobile Payment, NFC Applications, e-Transaction/e-Banking, Prepaid & Loyalty Programmes, IT Security & Internet of Things.

Sources: Smart Insights White Paper “eID in South-East Asia”

About CARTES in Asia

Follow us on Twitter @_cartes, and use the #cartesAsia hashtag

CARTES in Asia is a regional Exhibition for the APAC market and a high-level Congress covering digital security and smart technologies.

The 2nd edition of CARTES in Asia exhibition and conference attracted 3,056 visitors from 61 countries – an increase of 8% compared to 2010. Over 120 smart technology companies from across the globe including market leaders American Express, Datacard, Eastcompeace, Gemalto, Giesecke & Devrient, HID Global, Verifone, Watchdata, and Zebra Technologies joined this year’s event. While organisations such as Global Platform, Mastercard, SIM Alliance, Paypal and Price Waterhouse Coopers presented at the co-located two day conference.

CARTES Network

CARTES Network encompasses the leading international and regional exhibitions and conferences devoted to smart technologies. From its beginning in Paris in 1985, CARTES has grown to become the world number one Security and Payment event. Since 2010, CARTES exhibitions and conferences have also been organized in Asia and now North America.

CARTES events are organized by COMEXPOSIUM, the leading French professional trade fairs organizer, offering a high level of service and premium quality standards for exhibitors and visitors.

Contact

For more information, obtain photographs or to arrange interviews please contact Mandy Queen (English) at CRED Communications Ltd on +852 96847365 or email mandy@credcommunications.com or Otis Kung (Chinese) on +852 96843926 or email otis@credcommunications.com.