The government is taking steps to bring the printing of passports and other confidential state documents under the control of the Department of Government Printing, a move aimed at strengthening national security, improving operational efficiency, and reducing foreign exchange outflows.
The proposal was discussed during a recent meeting of the Cabinet of Ministers, where officials reviewed the current system under which passports and several high-security government documents are printed by foreign companies. The government noted that while outsourcing has ensured access to advanced printing technologies, it has also resulted in significant expenditure of foreign currency and dependence on overseas suppliers for sensitive national documents.
According to government officials, transferring the production of these documents to the Government Press would allow the country to retain a substantial portion of these expenditures within the domestic economy. The initiative is also expected to enhance the government’s ability to oversee and manage the production of secure documents, ensuring greater control over security features, confidentiality, and supply chain integrity.
Passports, national security documents, certificates, and other official records require specialized printing processes that incorporate sophisticated security features such as watermarks, holograms, microtext, security threads, and anti-counterfeiting technologies. To meet these requirements, the Department of Government Printing would need to upgrade its existing infrastructure and acquire advanced printing and finishing equipment.
Recognizing this need, the Minister of Mass Media and Information presented a proposal to the Cabinet seeking approval for the procurement of the necessary machinery and technology. The proposed investment would enable the Government Press to produce high-security documents that meet international standards while reducing the country’s dependence on foreign printing service providers.
Cabinet members acknowledged the potential economic and strategic benefits of the project. In addition to retaining foreign exchange within the country, the initiative could contribute to the development of local technical expertise in secure printing technologies and create opportunities for skill development within the government printing sector.
However, given the scale of investment required and the technical complexity of high-security document production, the Cabinet decided that a detailed assessment should be carried out before final approval is granted. The Department of Planning has therefore been tasked with conducting a comprehensive evaluation of the project’s financial, technical, and operational feasibility.
The assessment is expected to examine the costs of acquiring and maintaining specialized equipment, the training requirements for personnel, security compliance standards, and the long-term economic benefits of local production. The findings will help determine the most effective approach for implementing the initiative and ensuring its sustainability.
If approved, the project could mark a significant milestone in the modernization of the country’s government printing capabilities, enabling the Department of Government Printing to handle the production of passports and other confidential documents domestically while supporting broader national objectives related to security, self-reliance, and economic efficiency.