If prevention is better than cure, a unit on the Cairo-Ain Sokhna road has the means to deter the most skilful document forger.
Forgery costs the government millions in lost revenue, not to mention the inconvenience to innocent members of the public.
The secure, smart documents complex, the biggest of its kind in the Middle East and Africa, manufactures and issues smart cards and official documents ranging from passports to birth certificates as per the highest international standards.
The complex also functions as a collection, analysis and third-generation data processor, connecting data and smart documents directly with ministries and government agencies.
And in this day and age of hackers and large-scale cyber-attack, this complex is a veritable fortress as well as a centre of technology for the hologram industry.
Holograms serve as both a means of protection and authentication, and a warning about the dangers of counterfeiting.
Therefore, they are not solely to prevent counterfeits but act as an effective detection device.
The complex was completed in 2019 and the pilot operations began in February 2020, serving eight ministries with secured documents while a dozen others are being given secure databases.
Ten ministries now have the technology services and solutions, and smart applications will be installed in ten other entities.
President Abdel Fattah El Sisi yesterday attended the opening ceremony for the new complex in the New Administrative Capital.
Finance Minister Mohamed Maeet said the new complex, which cost $1 billion, will curb forgery, reduce losses to the public treasury, and protect government and individual rights.
The complex has two secure printing areas for paper and plastic documents, plus two facilities for processing and collecting electronic passport data, in addition to three more for processing the magnetic strip for smart cards.
The complex also has accurate, fully secure biometric databases since biometrics are the most suitable means of identifying and authenticating individuals reliably and quickly.
Increasing the tax revenues is one of the benefits of the new complex, which controls and tracks the tax system across the country.
If you are looking for a birth or death certificate, the complex can issue them.
Payment cards, such as Miza, Visa, MasterCard and cards for utility payments are made here.
Electronic driving licences, university certificates, public notary papers and holographic safety documents are available from this complex – all within 12-minutes.
The public will be able to obtain services online in the near future.
