http://www.cardtechnology.com/cgi-bin/readstory.pl?story=20020605CTDN566.xml --------------------------------------------------------------------- World’s Biggest Smart Card Project Could Begin This Year --------------------------------------------------------------------- China could begin late this year issuing smart cards as identification documents to its adult citizens, in what would quickly become the world’s biggest smart card project. If neeeded legislation can be enacted quickly, the government could issue 10 million cards this year, says Pan Lihua, a deputy director of a government chip card agency and secretary general of the Smart Card Society of China trade association. A new law will be required to mandate use of the smart cards when individuals carry out a wide range of transactions, from making a bank deposit to checking into a hotel. Pan says new legislation also is needed for the government to require a fingerprint biometric in the card, as planned. Some Chinese smart card vendors remain skeptical that the long-discussed project will in fact get under way this year. But Pan projects the program will ramp up to 70 million to 80 million cards in 2003, and more than 2003 cards annually after that. --------------------------------------------------------------------- The ID card will be a hard-wired memory card with only one application, and not the higher-priced microprocessor card that can be loaded with additional features. The card will be contactless, to avoid the war and tear on cards and readers from repeated insertions. Pan says the government has chosen four Chinese smart card vendors to supply the card. China is reluctant to rely on foreign vendors for a project that is viewed as a national security priority --------------------------------------------------------------------- ( 2002-06-05 ) --------------------------------------------------------------- EGLOBAL INTERNATIONAL LIMITED 2002-01-15 ASX-SIGNAL-G
HOMEX - Sydney
+++++++++++++++++++++++++ eGlobal International Limited (EGI) today reported on the progress of the major Shenyang Smartcard Project in Liaonning Province in China. The Company is enjoying significant export success in China through it's involvement in a multi-million dollar contract to implement a minimum of two million smart cards for a new medical insurance system in Shenyang. --------------------------------------------------------------------- eGlobal Managing Director Gordon Chalmers, who has recently returned from China, said "the contract, which is being project financed by eGlobal's associate Company, eGlobal International Holdings Ltd, is providing an excellent platform for the sale of the Australian technology. Revenue from the Australian company's involvement in 2001 exceeded $1.1 million from the early stages of the Shenyang project with approximately half that amount invoiced in December alone as the project accelerates". --------------------------------------------------------------------- "Australia is a huge net importer of information technology hardware, software and services, so this contract represents a step forward in the reversal of that trend," he said. --------------------------------------------------------------------- "What is important is that this contract is not just for the export of services. Much of the intellectual property, hardware and software being implemented in China is developed by eGlobal in Australia." --------------------------------------------------------------------- eGlobal, which has staff in China working full-time on the project, is installing its patented SmartVision cards for the Provisional Government-funded General Social Insurance Company of Shenyang. --------------------------------------------------------------------- The cards, which feature passport-sized photographs printed on the cards plus details of individuals' data encrypted on the cards' chips, are designed to provide a secure means of identifying Chinese workers and their associated medical and social insurance benefits. --------------------------------------------------------------------- Mr Chalmers said the contract has already been fast-tracked, which is a positive sign for future demand for eGlobal's technology in China. --------------------------------------------------------------------- "The initial contract was to install 200,000 cards by the end of December," he said. "That was subsequently increased to 600,000 units, at the request of the client, which we successfully completed by the end of the year." --------------------------------------------------------------------- "This a very significant contract for eGlobal, not only in terms of size and money, but also in terms of establishing a strong foothold in China," he said. --------------------------------------------------------------------- "We expect this contract to provide the foundation for further large smart card contracts in China for the Australian company and we have already started identifying other potential projects in neighbouring provinces." --------------------------------------------------------------------- Mr Chalmers said eGlobal's Chinese contract stems from a Chinese Central Government directive to Provincial and City Governments to provide nationalised social services. --------------------------------------------------------------------- He said smart card technologies offer a big advantage over paper-based systems in identifying and monitoring huge numbers of people, as is the case in China. --------------------------------------------------------------------- "As China moves towards nationalised social security systems, smart card technologies will become very important for all forms of government," he said. --------------------------------------------------------------------- "Smart cards offer the most effective, economical and safe means of storing and monitoring information." --------------------------------------------------------------------- Headquartered in Brisbane, eGlobal is one of Australia's leading integrators of enterprise business applications and security technologies for government, telecommunications, automotive, mining, health, insurance and finance industries. --------------------------------------------------------------------- The company recently announced a proposal to distribute its 40 million shares in Australian gaming technology company eBet to eGlobal ordinary shareholders. --------------------------------------------------------------------- Further information: Gordon Chalmers CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER eGlobal International Limited (07) 3369 6899
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