ICAO Regional Seminar on MRTDs, Biometrics and Security Standards

Singapore 2011

Wrap-up: Mauricio’s Talking Points

Dear Colleagues

Ladies and Gentlemen

It is a pleasure for me to provide closing comments on the completion of a very

successful ICAO Regional Seminar on MRTDs and Biometrics.

ICAO MRTD Regional Seminars as this one in Singapore have two main

purposes. First, they provide an opportunity to brief participants from the

Member States about current MRTD specifications, new developments and

clarify any specific questions and finer technical points. Secondly, they provide

a forum for professional discussions about the current and emerging needs of

States and other stakeholders. They present an opportunity to discuss practical

ways how we could join our forces to strengthen MRTD implementation and

border security capacity, so that the States and their societies could benefit from

enhanced security and facilitation that the MRTD programme offers.

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 We can say with confidence that the Regional Seminar in Singapore addressed

those needs very well. In particular, the numbers and diversity of the

participants highlighted the importance that government agencies and private

sector place on travel documents, border security and combating terrorism and

trans-border crime.

I would like to highlight some important messages that emerged from our

discussions at the Seminar:

• Mr. Awan, Director of the ICAO Regional Office in Bangkok highlighted that

this year marks the tenth anniversary of 9/11, and that, tragic as it is, this date

urges us to reflect upon what has been achieved and what still could be done to

ensure the greatest possible security world-wide. Security is a sector that allows

no compromises. It is our responsibility to be proactive, innovative and explore

every further option that adds to global security and cooperative international

efforts in combating terrorism.

• Mr Jim Marriot, Chief of the Aviation Security Branch provided the

institutional views on the importance ICAO places on the development and

implementation of the MRTD Programme, and highlighted the committment on

supportring and making the Programme and sustainable one for the long run.

• Compliance with ICAO MRTD standards and specifications is key to

maximising security and facilitation benefits for States and their citizens. And

for this, ICAO will update and simplify the structure of Doc 9303 and
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 significantly enhance its content with the inclusion of currently available

technical reports and information contained in the Supplement to Doc 9303. In

the meantime, this information is available form our web site.

• Some states world-wide struggle with the implementation of MRTD standards.

This calls for intensifying capacity building assistance efforts, intensifying

technical dialogue with states in need, and mobilising assistance from the donor

community.

• The session on the Public Key Directory (PKD) highlighted the importance of

considering all the component elements of required to issue an ICAO compliant

electronic Passport (or ePassport), which includes the implementation of the

PKD. A passport that simply ignores or overlooks this element cannot be called

an ePassport according to ICAO official definitions.

• Our hands-on exercise session on the ICAO Guide for Assessing Security of

Handling and Issuance of Travel Documents proved to be a constructive and

helpful exchange on this important work package, and generated very useful

feedback. It also provided and enhanced different perspectives on the travel

documents to participants from different professional backgrounds.

• Procurement of MRTDs remains an area that often presents significant

challenges to government agencies. If technical advice or guidance is needed, I

encourage States to contact ICAO MRTD programme at the early planning

stage. Preventing mistakes is much easier and cheaper than solving them.

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• The security of passport issuance process and Evidence of Identity is an area

that requires particular attention. This is an area where identity fraud efforts

have been shifting globally, and could be exploited for terrorist and trans-border

crime purposes. ICAO will continue with the ongoing work of codifying good

practices in secure issuance and identity management for the benefit of all

States.

• Smart Borders (eBorders) is an exciting and innovative area where new

approaches are being explored to enhance both border security and facilitation.

In particular, eBorder developments integrate the use of both travel document

and data to maximise security benefits. In particular, the success stories about

eVisa show that Smart Borders can be a significant addition to the broader

security framework. ICAO Secretariat has been following eBorder

developments world-wide and exploring options of providing guidance material

to States about already existing best practices.

• Some capacity gaps have been identified during the frank and constructive

discussions during the Seminar. The ICAO Secretariat and TAG/MRTD

Implementation and Capacity-Building Working Group will be following them

up and exploring ways how to address them through practical capacity-building

projects. But I also encourage States to maintain dialogue with ICAO about

their ongoing and newly-emerging MRTD and border challenges. The more we

know what your needs are, the better placed ICAO will be to develop an

effective technical assistance strategy. Please remain in touch with the MRTD
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Programme and the ICBWG about your needs and challenges. Also, make use

of the ICAO Regional Office in Bangkok to communicate your needs and

challenges. Our close cooperation and ongoing technical dialogue are key to

success.

This successful Regional Seminar was the result of excellent cooperation

between many parties. I should like to take this opportunity to thank our hosts,

the Government of Singapore – and especially the Civil Aviation Authority of

Singapore and the Singapore Aviation Academy – which provided enormous

assistance and support in organizing and implementing this very important

event. Their very generous hospitality was outstanding and gave us an

opportunity to discover the beauty and charm of Singapore and its people.

Special thanks are due to Mr. Yap Ong Heng, Director General, Civil Aviation

Authority of Singapore and his staff (Cheri and Ani) and Mr. Pok Cheng Chong,

Director of the Singapore Aviation Academy and his staff (Laura, Fadz and

Dian). His support and enormous contribution to organising the Seminar was

absolutely essential to its success. I would also like to highlight our gratitude to

Messrs. Chee Meng Lam, and Mr. Sherman Koh of the Civil Aviation Authority

of Singapore. They were our main focal points and partners in organising this

Regional Seminar. Their tireless efforts and readiness to go an extra mile

whenever needed made this Seminar a success.

Special thanks are due to the ICAO Technical Advisory Group Experts that

contributed during this seminar. You have graciously postponed your other

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duties to serve as speakers and moderators at the Seminar, generously provided

knowledge and expertise, thus ensuring its success. I must also thank the

Chairman of the Public Key Directory Board for their outstanding cooperation,

in particular for mobilizing experts for our Seminar.

The participants of the Seminar, diverse as they are, have one thing in common:

they are very busy people. I thank you all for taking your valuable time to attend

the Seminar, to contribute to its discussions and a constructive debate about

MRTD needs, current and future.

Thanks are due to the industry partners who made the Seminar possible through

their contributions and briefed us about the technologies and products they offer.

Finally, I would like to thank the MRTD Programme team: Garleen Tomney,

Erik Slavenas and Nathalie Teatin for making this event yet another success.

Again, I sincerely thank you all for having taken the time to join us here, and

look forward to seeing you at future ICAO MRTD events.

— END —