Bangalore, July 21 : The Transitional Federal Government of Somalia is looking forward to having exchanges and cooperation in all socio-economic aspects with India, Somalian President's Special Advisor and Spokesperson Yusuf Mohammed Ismail informed today.

Speaking to newspersons after witnessing the signing of contract for e-passport solution with the city-based Sobha Renaissance Information Technology (SRIT) by Somalian Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Hasan Ahmed Jama, he described India as a natural partner which shared similar culture and the Indian Ocean with his country.

Mr Ismail said the signing of the e-passport system with Sobha Renaissance for a 25 million US Dollar contract was a major milestone in Indo-Somalia technology friendship. The Indian company was shortlisted among 15 other bidders from different countries to develop a fully secured and reliable passport issuing system.

Somalia was the only African country to have an e-passport issuing system in the entire region.

He said the adoption of information technology in key segments, including passport issuing system, would enhance the internal and external security. After this system was commissioned, Somalia would extend it to other strategically important national-level automation programmes.

Mr Jama, in his address, said there was great scope for economic cooperation between the two nations to boost bilateral trade.

Somalia wanted to have economic tie-up with India to explore its rich oil and gas resources for mutual benefit.

Sobha Renaissance CEO Dr Madhu Nambiar said a fool-proof passport issuing system would be implemented in Somalia within six months.

The most secured and reliable system would have features like inbuilt fingerprint image with laser engraving.

UNI

Source: newkerala.com , July 22, 2005