HeiTech Padu Berhad, Malaysia´s leading ICT solution and service provider, said that it is ready to supply MRPs to Nepal at US$ 3.75 (Rs 273.75) per piece. [break]
Earlier, India offered to supply the MRPs to Nepal at US$ 4 (Rs 292) a piece.
In its expression-of-interest letter dated February 9 and addressed to Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs Sujata Koirala, the firm has offered to supply up to 500,000 blank passports in the initial phase by April 1 so that Nepal need not worry about missing the ICAO deadline.
The offer from the Malaysian firm has come at a time when Nepal is headed to miss the ICAO deadline for introducing the machine readable passports. Nepal´s chances of meeting the deadline became slim after the Ministry of Foreign Affairs cancelled a controversial bidding process on "technical grounds" last December.
In its letter, obtained by Republica, the Malaysian firm has also specified the scope of the work it will carry out at the quoted price. It has proposed to develop and install a machine-readable system that includes application, possession and personalization. Besides, the firm has offered to supply and install the required hardware such as servers, personal computers, passports printers and readers. The scope of work also includes setting up a passport production center in Nepal.
The Malaysian company has been producing machine readable passports for Sri Lanka, the first South Asian country to introduce the high-tech travel document, and for Malaysia itself. It is also producing third generation passports for the Malaysian government.
A local agent of the company told Republica that the company has studied Nepal´s requirements and is ready to meet the ICAO deadline. The agent further said that the firm will deliver the MRPs via air freight.
A Foreign Affairs Ministry source said that a British security printing company has also submitted an expression of interest to supply MRPs. But Republica does not have details like the price and scope of work that the firm has offered. Similarly, a French company is also making preparations to submit an offer, according to an official at the French embassy. The official said the company will quote half the price that India has offered for supply of MRPs to Nepal.
Nepal is supposed to introduce the high-tech travel documents by the deadline and replace four million already-issued traditional passports with the MRPs in the initial phase.
Nepal´s plan to introduce MRPs by April 1 foundered after it cancelled a questionable bidding process last December amidst controversy. Since the cancellation the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has remained undecided on its next move.
But sources say that India is almost sure to get the MRP project as DPM Koirala already gave word to her Indian counterpart SM Krishna during the latter´s visit to Nepal in mid-January.
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