Turnkey solution includes 10 million cards to be rolled out for the Parliamentary elections in April 2009

Amsterdam & Sana’a, Yemen, Jan 9, 2008–Gemalto (Euronext NL0000400653 GTO), the world leader in digital security, today announces that it has been selected to deliver the electronic ID cards solution commissioned by the Ministry of Interior of Yemen for the next national elections. Under the contract, Gemalto will implement the whole solution including enrollment processes, creation of a secure biometric national registry, maintenance, local support, training and integration services, as well as provide the 10 million smart ID cards that will see Yemen step in the digital security era. The first cards will be delivered to the Yemeni citizens during first half of 2008, and the program will reach completion by April 2009 when the population is to vote for the new Parliament.

Gemalto’s secure personal device, the size of a credit card, will be the official ID document for Yemen citizens above 16. It stores personal credentials such as name, address, digital photograph and fingerprints. In the future, the Yemen national ID card might also integrate e-government applications as the government wishes to leverage this technology to simplify its relationship with the population. In addition the new electronic ID document has been designed to ensure compatibility with e-government standards developed by the Gulf Cooperation Council neighbouring countries.

“This new electronic ID card illustrates the Yemen government’s wish to modernize the country’s election process while enabling Yemeni citizens to benefit from a secure and convenient identification means,”, comments Jacques Seneca, Executive Vice President in charge of the Security business unit for Gemalto. “The growing need for governments to effectively authenticate citizens for more efficient services, combined with the increasing concerns of ID theft and fraud, has influenced technologically proactive governments in Austria, Belgium, China, Estonia, Finland, Hong Kong, Japan, Macao, Morocco, Oman, Portugal, Qatar, Spain, Saudi Arabia, Sweden, UAE and many more to convert to smart-card based ID solutions. We are very pleased that now Yemen is joining these leading nations”.

About Gemalto

Gemalto (Euronext NL 0000400653 GTO) is the leader in digital security with pro forma 2006 annual revenues of €1.7 billion, more than 85 offices in 40 countries and about 10,000 employees including 1,300 R&D engineers. In a world where the digital revolution is increasingly transforming our lives, Gemalto’s solutions are designed to make personal digital interactions more convenient, secure and enjoyable. Gemalto provides end-to-end digital security solutions, from the development of software applications through design and production of secure personal devices such as smart cards, SIMs, e-passports, and tokens to the deployment of managed services for its customers. More than a billion people worldwide use the company’s products and services for telecommunications, financial services, e-government, identity management, multimedia content, digital rights management, IT security, mass transit and many other applications.

As the use of Gemalto’s software and secure devices increases with the number of people interacting in the digital and wireless world, the company is poised to thrive over the coming years. Gemalto was formed in June 2006 by the combination of Axalto and Gemplus. For more information please visit http://www.gemalto.com.

Contacts

Gemalto
Emmanuelle SABY
M.: +33(0) 6 09 10 76 10
emmanuelle.saby@gemalto.com

TBWA Corporate
Emlyn Korengold
T.: +33 (0) 6 08 21 93 74
emlyn.korengold@tbwa-corporate.com