Bangalore IT firm bags USD 25 million Somalia e-contracts

[Sky]

The Somali government is really starting to like its building up the institutions and services that a government usually provides. Newly appointed local governments will be formed in Somalia and all will be allocated a budget to start working. Xasan Axmed Jaamac Daafeedow used his network to pull a good bargain for the Somali government, like he did for the Puntland government yesteryears.

 

 

-----------------

 

 

Bangalore IT firm bags USD 25 million Somalia e-contracts

Bangalore, July. 21 (PTI): Bangalore-based Sobha Renaissance Information Technology (SRIT) bagged 25 million USD worth Somalian e-governance contracts, under which it would develop ePassport and eAuthentication systems for that country.

 

SRIT CEO Madhu Nambiar, told reporters here today that the company would work closely with the Somalian Government in implementing and deploying a successful national passport programme solution.

 

Soon thereafter, SRIT would execute national ID programme, automation of driver licences, vehicle registration and national health programmes, Nambiar said. The e-Passport system will regulate and systemise the issuance of passports to Somalian citizens.

 

Somalia's Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Hasan Ahmed Jama, said in response to a question that SRIT was chosen from among 15 bids of companies based in Asia, Europe and the United States as it "fulfilled our requirements."

 

Jama, accompanied by Special Advisor and spokesperson to President of Somalia Yusuf Mohammed Ismail, and the DG of the PMO, Mohammed Ali Nur, said his country is keen to automate the entire process of authentication of an individual's identity and verify permission.

 

Nambiar said the software part of the turnkey execution would include several core modules including the tracking module which, he added, will ensure a high level of security throughout the personalisation process.

 

"This module would track production in its entirety, providing valuable output reports for the Government's information and analysis," said SRIT, part of the Sobha Group with annualised revenues in excess of USD 210 millions.

 

http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/holnus/006200507211923.htm

[Suldaanka]

^^ :eek:

 

to develop ePassport and eAuthentication systems

I was expecting computer equipments and office automation but ePassports?? :eek:

 

A case of - I can't walk so lets run -

[Som@li]

^^^You may not be aware but somalis need so badly some form of legitimate passport whcih are regulated like any other country,,yes somalia also needs millions other things,but somalis suffer cuz of lack of legitimate PP,say somali business pple(and business is the backbone of the economy), sick pple who want go abroad for medications, cuz now almost no country recognises a passport issues in the streets. So i say this is possitive step.

[rudy-Diiriye]

25mils going to an indian! why not hire somali ppl to do this!! what a crap! another prime example of boondoggle!!

 

waaba big time caab!! i aint feeling it! r u?

what a shame!

[OLOL]

Somali programers in Canada and US could have done the whole thing voluntarily....

They could have created a new database programs and software application systems to issue Social Identification Cards, Driver license, passports and so on without even asking any money. so simple and so available in your own back yard..

 

It is a waste of money and by the way, there is not even a need for such system right now. They should first focus resolving their differences and use that money to empower Somali elders and civics to pacify the warring clans. They could also resurrect the Municipality Anagraphs and Recording System Barre left. It is still there and you still have plenty of experienced folks familiar with that system.

 

 

There is a food shortage,draughts, water scarcity in most regions. Use that money to purchase well digging and water preservation/purification equipements, wind mills, solar panels and so on. Buy mobile ambulances, train girls to become nurses and midwives, rehabilitate militias.....do something constructive and above all prioritize.

 

25 million to an Indian software programmer? give me a break!

[Som@li]

Originally posted by OLOL:

25 million to an Indian software programmer? give me a break!

^^what do you know abt India?? Don't you know Bangalore is among the top places leading in software engineering today!!!,and abt the somali programers,when need to complte such project,it is better to take it to an establishd company.

[OLOL]

Yes, we all heard and inundated that Banglore is the over-hyped famed IT capital of India with a cheap labor and so on.

 

But that is not the point! Tell me why do we need passports and driver license when millions of Somalis are starving? …have no access to clean water? …The infant mortality is so high? When there is scarcity of water everywhere? When you have ongoing clannish warfare in every region? …that 25 Million could have been used to at least work out on one of these social and environmental problems in one region.

 

My whole point is prioritize and deal with neccessities first....stabilize and pacify the country first...then when you have a stable viable peaceful society, then think of providing services and administrative functions!

 

 

one Banglore mishap:

 

The Northwest Airlines outsourced to Banglore to have its airline reservation system programmed and got a disaster end-product alla Bollywood. a minor example, The Indian programmers there had a man on crutches instead of wheel chair as a handicap checkout! they had so many other mishaps that forced the whole company to contract some one in Minneapolis to program their whole system...with even less money and less time. They had to discard the Banglore version.

 

That is Banglore! They are good and cheap too!!

[OLOL]

Somalia ties up with Sobha Renaissance for e-passports

 

Our Bureau / Bangalore July 22, 2005

 

The Somali government, as a part of its plan to boost its secutiry and streamline its immigration process, has signed a $25 million contract with Sobha Renaissance Information Technology (SRIT), an Indian IT solution provider.

 

The company was short-listed from among 15 global companies by the Somali government, Sobha executives told reporters here on Thursday.

 

The company will help the government implement and deploy a National Passport solution. It will also help it in executing the national ID programmes, automation of driver licenses, vehicle registration and national health programmes. The project will start by September this year and will be executed in six months, the executives said.

 

The Somali government will issue e-passports and start the process of e-authentication through fingerprints.

 

"The electronic identification is highest level of security that can be provided and this will also fasten the immiration process," said Madhu Nambiar, CEO, Sobha Renaissance. This comes at a period when governments across the globe are confronting a rise in forged or altered identity documents.

 

The deputy minister of foreign affairs, Transitional Federal Government of Somalia Hasan Ahmed Jama said that the topmost priority of his government is national security and e-governance program will help in that cause.

 

"The strategic mandate is to automate the entire process of authentication of an individual’s identity and verify permission," he added.

 

Somalia is among the first developing countries to take up this programme.

 

The e-passport and e-authentication programme, at present, is used in 46 countries across the globe, most in European countries. India is yet to take up this programme.