Entrust partners with MK Group to issue 50 million cards for Vietnam’s Chip-Based National ID Card project

The project is the combination of Entrust’s advanced card issuance solutions and MK Group’s deep local footprint to enhance security and safety of the Vietnam’s national identity cards

HANOI, VIETNAM – Media
OutReach – 18 August 2021 – Entrust, a
leading provider of trusted identities, payments and data protection, has just
announced that the company has facilitated the roll-out of Vietnam’s citizen
identity (ID) card project through a strategic partnership with MK Group Joint
Stock Company (MK Group). Entrust and MK Group will be delivering advanced
technology solutions and on-the-ground support together for Vietnam to be able
to issue 50 million chip-based ID cards to eligible citizens starting in February
2021.

Entrust issuance systems and software solutions, along with Vietnam-based
MK Group – who will be managing on-the-ground operations and overseeing the
local card issuance, will enable the high-speed, high-volume personalization of
the first 50-million national ID cards. The new chip-embedded National ID cards will
replace and consolidate the three most recent versions of National ID cards – nine-digit,
12-digit, and barcode-based, introduced in 1999, 2012, and 2016 respectively – with
new chip-based cards, introducing a more secure, standardized way to authenticate
citizen identities.

“We are pleased to be selected as the technology partner for
this nationwide project to transform Vietnam’s citizen ID system into one that
is more standardized, secure, and digitally advanced,” said Angus McDougall, Regional
Vice President, Asia Pacific and Japan, Entrust. “We view this partnership with
MK Group as a strong step towards the future of trusted identities in Vietnam.”

“MK Group is proud to introduce and implement leading technology
for multi-application smart cards, with ID and biometric authentication
application in accordance to ICAO standards. 
The partnership with Entrust signifies our shared vision of accelerating
the rise of secure data protection and advanced identity authentication in Vietnam,
where our offerings continue to play an instrumental role in the nation’s
digitalization programme,” said Mr. Khang Nguyen, Chairman of MK Group. “MK
Group is well placed to respond to the growing focus on government-grade security
and assurance demonstrated in this card issuance project, through the delivery
of robust and scalable solutions.”

MK Smart, a subsidiary of MK Group, developed the operating system
of the chip on smartcards and its applications, in compliance with ICAO
standards and local security requirements. The chip-based ID Card, which is bundled
with ICAO-compliance e-ID data, biometric and digital signing capabilities, will
be used to log into many different government and private portals, where
thousands of services are provided to citizens. Citizens can also use the card
for authentication with government bodies and banks.

Entrust has been delivering high-volume issuance systems and
high-quality consumable supplies and professional services to fulfill the first
batch of 50 million smart cards.