Interview: Ralph Hajjar, commercial engineer at
Semlex Group
Ralph
Hajjar is working at the Semlex group as a commercial engineer since 2003. In
this interview, he explains the different uses of biometrics, and how it brings security to official documents. He then tells us about the company Semlex’s
current work in Africa and new projects with governments.
Interviewer:
Mr. E. Figaro (blogger)
EF: How does the company Semlex differentiates
itself from other companies on the security documents market?
RH: We
propose complete solutions, a long-term project from the conception until the
delivery of the complete system, followed by the monitoring of the project
until the end of the contract. This includes the opening of offices on territories, the training of new employees and the constant production of
documents provided by our technicians. And more importantly, we respond to the
needs of our customers.
EF: How does the BNS System created by Semlex
work? How does it strengthen the security of identity documents?
R.H.: “BNS”
means Biometric Network System. We chose that term to describe the centralization
of biometric data in a national server in which each individual has a unique
identification number, which will follow him all his life. All official
documents –ID, passport, driver license and so on- are created on the basis of
this identification number, the fingerprint of the individual and his personal
informations. We are currently moving to a new generation of software, the “Web
AFIS” [Automated Fingerprints Identification System], which uses fingerprints
to recognize individuals.
In what ways does the system AFIS differentiates itself from the former
system, the BNS?
It is
more complete. It will allow us to adapt to each service and project in
particular. In comparison, the BNS System
is less easily adaptable to each country’s needs, we can do it but it requires
more effort than with the AFIS System.
So now we are creating a new software with new technologies, new writing
techniques easier to handle. The goal is to make the system simpler and more
efficient.
“All official documents
(…) are created on the basis of [an] identification number, fingerprints and the
civilians’ personal informations.”
Except the countries in which you already
work [Senegal, Kenya and Nigeria for example], where are your new projects located?
In Mozambique. This is more than just a
project, it is a whole program that was established in partnership with the
Government of Mozambique. This is an agreement we had with the State to supply
a complete identification system. This identification system includes the
creation of a unique identification number: each person who will be introduced
in our system will have a folder created with the number of his province, his
district, and its unique number identification. From this number, the biometric
ID card is edited and then the passport can simply be produced on the basis of the
identity card. Besides that, we also deal with the migration service in
Mozambique. We related the foreigner’s database and the identity cards database
to verify that there are no foreigner’s attempts to have an identity card illegally.
We also produce biometric residence permits for foreigners, and have created a
system of visa delivery at the airport. Semlex also set up a system of border
control for inputs and outputs at the airport. This is a system that reads Mozambican
and foreign documents and records the passage of individuals by taking their
fingerprints and photo.
Did you already use the Border Control System
in other countries?
Yes
we have, for instance we just installed it in Comoros. The first border control
installed by Semlex was in Gabon. The one we use now in Mozambique has
important features dealing with the registry of all civilians and the
registration of passages of all people. For instance when someone crosses the
border for the first time, he is registered and if when he will come back we will
find him in the database using the fingerprints recognition, even if he presents
himself with another passport. This prevents from identity theft. We also set
up a “watch list” of wanted persons –for example someone who stole a passport-
using information we have about the criminal (photo, fingerprints or
the stolen passport’s number).
“Semlex takes all the [financial] risks, even in
countries economically unstable.”
What type of funding is proposed to governments
by Semlex?
Semlex’s
business model is a bit different than others’ companies, because we do not
seek to only sell a solution to our customers and then leave then. The idea is
that since we are offering systems which are difficult to manage without
training, we propose to follow projects from beginning to end. Thus we propose
to governments 5 to 10-year projects with quality material assurance and
mostly, we propose to finance the whole project. So in this type of contract,
the State doesn’t invest money and receives a part of the revenue. Semlex takes
all the risks, even in countries economically unstable. For us the most
important is not the cost of the project, it is the result.
How is your staff composed in the different African
countries?
There are
two types of staff. First we have the State’s operators of the country in
question. Those people are paid by the State, and trained by us to use Semlex’s
equipment. Then there is the staff from Semlex team working on the spot in
different countries. For example, in Mozambique we count 25 Semlex’s employees.
In this vast country –about 3000 km-long- we have a lot of missions where we
have to ensure the maintenance of services -500 machines through the 11 Mozambican
provinces.
Do you
train local people for you projects in Africa? Do you create jobs?
Yes, and
mostly in Mozambique, which is currently our major project. In all our projects,
it is important to us to transmit an expertise, to train people.
This interview was translated by kind authorization
of the author E. Figaro, blogger for “Nouvelles d’Afrique”
