DUSHANBE, October 27, 2009, Asia-Plus — Foreign Minister Hamrokhon Zarifi told reporters in Dushanbe yesterday that the first consignment of blank biometric passports for Tajikistan was delivered to Dushanbe on October 25.
According to him, issuing new passports will begin starting from the beginning of 2010. “Despite the global financial crisis, the government has found funds for ordering blank biometric passports abroad because our partners in Europe want speedy introduction of the biometric passports for Tajikistan,” Zarifi said.
The minister noted that for issue of the biometric passports it was necessary to set up special centers in the country to put passport holder’s data on the microchip. On the price for the biometric passport, Zarifi said, “It will be announced through media after it is determined.”
We will recall that that German Muhlbauer has been granted a contract for purchase of blank biometric passports for Tajikistan. A two-stage tender for purchase of biometric passports and appropriate equipment, announced by the Agency for State Purchases within the Ministry of Economic Development and Trade and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, was held in June this year. On August 27, Tajik MFA and German Muhlbauer signed a contract on purchase of blank biometric passports and appropriate equipment for Tajikistan. The document was inked in Dushanbe by Mr. Hamrokhon Zarifi, Foreign Minister of Tajikistan, and Mr. Ludwig Huber, Vice-President of Muhlbauer.
