In a historic move aimed at enhancing national security and curbing corruption, Kyrgyzstan has embarked on a significant journey by initiating the domestic production of its passports. The announcement was made by Erbol Sultanbaev, the spokesperson for President Sadyr Japarov, via a Facebook post.
«We would like to share with you great news. For the first time in the history of the country, we ourselves began to print our national documents,» the post read.
This milestone marks the first time in Kyrgyzstan's history that the country has begun printing its own national documents. President Japarov had previously announced this development at the start of the year, emphasizing the importance of taking control of passport production within the nation's borders. The realization of this vision involved the acquisition of modern equipment for the Uchkun State Printing House, where the passport printing process has now officially commenced.
Erbol Sultanbaev underscored the significance of this achievement, stating;
"At all times, the passports of citizens of Kyrgyzstan were printed abroad. It's no secret that this was a great field for the enrichment of individual unscrupulous officials and even leaders of the criminal world."
By bringing passport production in-house, Kyrgyzstan aims to eradicate this long-standing issue of corruption and enhance the security of its citizens' identity documents.
Historically, Kyrgyzstan has annually ordered up to 1.5 mn ID cards and international passports from foreign countries. With the implementation of this new initiative, these documents will now be manufactured using the latest cutting-edge technologies employed by some of the world's most advanced nations.
Sultanbaev further emphasized the security aspect, noting that in the past, counterfeit Kyrgyzstani passports had been detected abroad, making it challenging to trace their origin. To address this concern, a multi-layered protection system will be integrated into the new passports, placing them on par with the security features of the world's top ten countries. This development is expected to significantly reduce the risk of passport forgery.
With this move, all national documents for Kyrgyzstani citizens will now be printed within the country, ensuring full government oversight and control over the process. The transition has been the result of a year-long effort to combat illicit passport production. President Japarov's personal involvement in leading this campaign against the so-called "passport mafia" played a pivotal role in its success.
Sultanbaev concluded by highlighting the financial benefits of this domestic passport production.
"If until today the documents were produced abroad, now passports will be printed on the territory of the country. Thus, we are able to save the money of the state and the people, without paying three times more for it," he stated.
This financial efficiency is expected to have a positive impact on Kyrgyzstan's economy while also reinforcing national security.
As Kyrgyzstan takes this bold step towards self-reliance in passport production, it not only fortifies its national security but also stands as an example of fiscal responsibility and transparency in government operations. The move marks a significant turning point in the nation's history and demonstrates a commitment to safeguarding the interests of its citizens.
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