“It has several new functions, offers several online services and meets international standards”, Pravind Jugnauth stresses. The Prime Minister was present at the Sir Harilal Vaghjee Hall this Monday 26 February where he launched the new national identity card.
The Vice-President of the Republic of Mauritius, Mr Marie Cyril Eddy Boissézon; Ministers; Members of Parliament and the Diplomatic Corps; and the Vice President of Thales, Mr Remy Muscat, were among the attendees at the launch. It is noted that the revamping of the ID Card was allocated to Consortium Thales/Harel Mallac Technologies Ltd.
The MNIC 3.0 card, according to Pravind Jugnauth, has many features, including a barcode that will enable certain agencies, such as the Passport and Immigration Office and the Post Office, to read the stored civil data.
The new identity card will also have a digital wallet that will be available on smartphones.
It should be recalled that for the time being the old and new cards will coexist. Actually, only those who have reached the age of 18 or 60, those whose card has been lost or damaged and people whose name has changed through marriage or by court order can apply for the new card.
It should be noted, however, that it is only the physical version that was launched on Monday. The second phase will see the launching of the digital version.
According to the Prime Minister, the MNIC 3.0 system is a first in Africa and is yet to be implemented in Europe. With the coming into operation of the mobile ID, he underlined that Mauritius will become the first country in Africa to bring a fully interoperable digital ID wallet based on international ISO standards. “It is a matter of great pride for Mauritius to embrace a digital wallet bearing birth and marriage certificates and hold an electronic version of identity cards”, he indicated.
Agencies such as banks, Mauritius Post Limited, and the Passport and Immigration Office will be in the capacity to read civil data stored in the barcode and the chip of the card, he said, underlining that digital reading will transform business transactions, promote ease of doing business, improve operational efficiency and enhance convenience.
Furthermore, he indicated that to be in line with our commitment to the United Nations Human Rights Council regarding the security of procedures, it is now mandatory that security audits of the MNIC 3.0 system be conducted by an independent body to ensure compliance with safety and confidential parameters. These regulations, he added, have been drafted in accordance to the Data Protection Act to upkeep confidentiality of personal data and safety of electronic data.
Likewise, Mr Muscat, exhorted the need for digitalisation so that Mauritius is able to navigate effortlessly through the complexities of the 21st century and embed a modern and sustainable future. Mauritius, he observed, has embarked on its digital transformation journey to enhance citizen’s service and strengthen national security. He indicated that Thales is pleased to be the trusted supplier of Mauritius to pioneer the next-generation identity system in the country along with Harel Mallac Technologies Ltd.
