Thales High Tech to Offer Thai Citizens One of the World’s Most Secure E-Passports
6.8.2020 15:00:00 EEST | Business Wire | Press release
Even though the COVID-19 health crisis has been severely disrupting the global travel industry, in the past few months the DGM Consortium has continued its close collaboration with MOFA. Global teams were working remotely to deliver the project, supporting the Thai Government’s ‘Thailand 4.0’ vision to develop an innovative, digital economy.
This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200806005034/en/
Thai passports (Photo: Thales)
The new Thai e-passport project was delivered on the 8th of July to MOFA and launched in an official inauguration ceremony conducted on the 5th of August in the presence of Minister Don Pramudwinai, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Thailand.
The Thai e-passport project is one of the largest passport programs for Thales worldwide, as it aims to provide Thai citizens superior technology and the highest possible level of security in a travel document.
The newly designed 64-page biometric travel document includes an e-Cover and a thin, flexible data page made of polycarbonate material. The reverse side of the data page features a high definition, true color UV picture of one of Bangkok’s most iconic landmarks, the Wat Arun temple. The security features visible on the data page include an additional secondary image of the citizen perforated in the semi-transparent window; as well as the traditional Thai four-petal lotus symbol, the line-pra-jum-yam, embossed using Thales’ Secure Surface technology.
Designed to counter new types of forgeries, Thales Secure Surface provides optical elements with light reflective and animation effects revealed by tilting a document in different angles. This visible security feature allows fast and efficient verification by border authorities.
An additional perceptible feature is the tactile signature of the citizen embossed on the data page. Biometric data is securely embedded into the passport chip using Thales’ secure embedded software. This software provides strong security for identification and protection of citizens’ privacy.
The technological features of the passport ensures secure and fast border crossing, while complying with all relevant data protection laws in Thailand and is fully compliant to the highest security standards recommended by the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO).
Since the project’s inception, Thales has trained 250 local experts in its passport issuance technologies. Over the next seven years, Thales will be operating know-how transfer and upskilling more than 500 Thai nationals in its technologies, thus significantly contributing to the local economy.
Thales has been a dedicated partner to Thailand for almost 50 years in industry sectors ranging from defence to air traffic management and ground transportation. Aligning with this vision Thales will henceforth be providing its digital identity and biometrics expertise to the Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs, making the Group their trusted partner as they deliver a highly-secure and modern passport for their citizens.
“I am delighted that Thales has successfully delivered this new generation passport to Thai citizens and helped the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) strengthen homeland protection and safeguard their citizens’ identities. Throughout the last few months amidst the global COVID-19 pandemic, we have continued our close collaboration with MOFA and worked tirelessly to deliver this milestone. Thai citizens now possess one of the world’s most sophisticated e-passports that integrate biometrics and other high-security features that will provide a seamless and secure travel experience. We will continue to build local expertise in passport issuance with training and transfer-of-technology aligned with our commitment to upskilling the Thai workforce as Thailand moves towards a digital future.” Massimo Marinzi, Country Director, Thales in Thailand
About Thales
Thales (Euronext Paris: HO) is a global technology leader shaping the world of tomorrow today. The Group provides solutions, services and products to customers in the aeronautics, space, transport, digital identity and security, and defence markets. With 83,000 employees in 68 countries, Thales generated sales of €19 billion in 2019 (on a pro forma basis including Gemalto over 12 months).
Thales is investing in particular in digital innovations — connectivity, Big Data, artificial intelligence and cybersecurity — technologies that support businesses, organisations and governments in their decisive moments.
PLEASE VISIT
Thales Group
Download HD photos
To view this piece of content from cts.businesswire.com, please give your consent at the top of this page.
View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200806005034/en/
Contact information
Thales, Media relations
Digital Identity & Security
Vanessa Viala
+33 (0) 6 89 73 25 47
vanessa.viala@thalesgroup.com
Thales, South East Asia Communications
Serene Koh
+65 6594 6898
serene.koh@asia.thalesgroup.com
About Business Wire
For more than 50 years, Business Wire has been the global leader in press release distribution and regulatory disclosure.
Subscribe to releases from Business Wire
Subscribe to all the latest releases from Business Wire by registering your e-mail address below. You can unsubscribe at any time.
Latest releases from Business Wire
Europe Launches Euro-Q-Exa Quantum Computer in Germany, Strengthening Sovereign Digital Infrastructure12.2.2026 22:15:00 EET | Press release
Euro-Q-Exa, the first EuroHPC Joint Undertaking quantum computer deployed in Germany, has been unveiled at the Leibniz Supercomputing Centre (LRZ) in Garching, Munich. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260212928399/en/ Silke Launert, Parliamentary State Secretary of the BMFTR; Dieter Kranzlmüller, Director of the LRZ; Maximilian Böltl, Member of the Bavarian State Parliament; Markus Blume, Bavarian Minister of State of Science and the Arts; Henna Virkkunen, Executive Vice-President of the European Commission for Technological Sovereignty, Security and Democracy; and Sylwia Barthel de Weydenthal, Chief Commercial Officer of IQM Quantum Computers (from the left). The deployment marks a significant step in Europe’s effort to build long-term quantum capability as part of its sovereign digital infrastructure, alongside world-leading high-performance computing (HPC). Installed, hosted, and operated at LRZ, Euro-Q-Exa
Sindre Zeiner-Gundersen Joins Joi Scientific12.2.2026 21:00:00 EET | Press release
Joi Scientific is pleased to welcome Sindre Zeiner-Gundersen as the company’s Advanced Plasma & Resonant Energy Physicist. Sindre will lead Joi’s scientific activities including all aspects of Joi’s science program. Sindre is a quantum physics expert who previously served as CEO/President of Nornec AS, a Norwegian consulting and engineering services company. Nornec has been a consultant to Joi since 2024. At Nornec, Sindre provided consulting and R&D services in the areas of advanced nuclear reactor simulations, process and plant optimization, carbon capture optimization, materials selection and radiation effects, custom reactor design, muon and neutron detector systems, muon and catalyzed fusion and Hydrogen Rydberg Matter research. An applied physicist with end‑to‑end expertise in energy‑carrier gases - ammonia, methanol, hydrogen - as well as a radiation instrumentation specialist with experience in process and equipment design across the ammonia/hydrogen value chain, Sindre has aut
Angelalign Technology Inc. (6699.HK) Says a Preliminary European Court Ruling on Certain Software Features Will Have Minimal Impact on Users12.2.2026 18:58:00 EET | Press release
Angelalign Technology Inc. (6699.HK) (“Angel”) said a ruling by the Unified Patent Court of Düsseldorf, Germany that it preliminarily cease its use of certain software functions that automatically update treatment plans would have minimal impact on the orthodontists and patients who use its clear aligner products. The ruling applies to certain European countries and excludes Spain, Switzerland, United Kingdom and Ireland. Angel will launch iPlan for applicable European users, which is an upgrade feature that has the same reliability and more flexibility for users. Angel denies that the Live Now feature in its iOrtho treatment planning software infringes any valid patents of Align Technology Inc. (ALGN). Angel has already filed an opposition against the patent with the European Patent Office (EPO), arguing that the claimed invention is neither novel nor inventive over the prior art, and is seeking its permanent invalidation. Angel is confident it will overcome the first-instance, non-fi
Model ML Buys Captide to Give Financial AI Agents Citable Corporate Disclosure Data12.2.2026 18:43:00 EET | Press release
Model ML today announced the acquisition of Captide, the leading financial data layer that turns complex global corporate filings and disclosures into LLM-ready documents and data for AI agents. The acquisition, just weeks after the fintech raised $75m in funding from leading US and UK investors, expands Model ML’s AI workflow builder, enabling its AI agents to reliably retrieve, reason over, and cite global filings. Earlier in 2025, Model ML bought Flippr which added automated PowerPoint generation and verification agents to the platform. Founded in 2024 by Maurits Brinkman and Miquel Trafí Ruiz, Captide’s API takes SEC filings, earnings calls and more and structures them in a way AI models can easily and accurately understand at scale. Its platform already spans 2.5 million+ documents and supports 1 billion embeddings. By bringing Captide into Model ML, clients – including Big 4 accounting firms, consulting companies and top-tier global financial institutions – can now access this di
Andersen Global Adds Collaborating Firm Pi Advisory12.2.2026 16:30:00 EET | Press release
Andersen Global strengthens its capabilities in Africa through a Collaboration Agreement with Pi Advisory, a financial advisory firm based in Angola with a presence in Mozambique and Portugal. Pi Advisory provides a comprehensive suite of services, including full-service tax services, business support and outsourcing, financial advisory, and a wide range of corporate services to support clients with everything from setting up a new business entity to navigating local tax regulations. The firm integrates Environmental, Social, and Corporate Governance (ESG) principles into its operations, reflecting its commitment to sustainable business practices. “This collaboration strengthens our ability to support clients with complex, multi-jurisdictional needs,” said António Amaral Correia, partner at Pi Advisory. “By collaborating with Andersen Global, we can provide solutions that meet the evolving demands of clients in Lusophone markets and beyond.” Mark L. Vorsatz, global chairman and CEO of
In our pressroom you can read all our latest releases, find our press contacts, images, documents and other relevant information about us.
Visit our pressroom