Wednesday, 26th November 2008 - 13:38CET

Video: World's first purpose-built ePassport factory opened at Bulebel

The world's first purpose-built ePassport research and production facility was inaugurated at Bulebel today by Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi. The €6 million plant has been built by De La Rue adjacent to its large banknote printing facility.

The new 2,600 square metre building allows De La Rue to print and assemble machine readable and biometric passports. It is expected to produce two million ePassports annually and could double that if required. The operation, employing 44, is headed by Albert Zammit, a Maltese national who recently returned from Sri Lanka where he managed De La Rue's banknote printing factory for seven years.

Those present for this morning's ceremony included James Thorburn, managing director of De La Rue Indentity Systems.

(See video above of this morning ceremony and documentary by De La Rue on the production of modern passports).