Expanding into international security printing
Uchkun’s entry into the export market reflects growing demand among African states for high-security travel documents that meet international standards. Namibia, for example, issued a tender in 2024 requiring features such as polycarbonate data pages and LDS2 contactless chips—specifications Kyrgyzstan now offers. While only Namibia has been publicly confirmed as a client so far, Kyrgyz officials say they are also in talks with Ghana about future cooperation. Ghana currently holds a 10-year passport production agreement with Hungary’s ANY Security Printing, signed in December 2023, so Kyrgyzstan’s potential involvement remains under negotiation.
Kyrgyz officials assert that Uchkun’s passports meet ICAO Doc 9303 standards, the international benchmark for machine-readable travel documents. However, there is no public record yet of certification under ISO 14298’s “Central Bank/High Security Printer” designation. Even so, securing a government-to-government export order suggests that the facility meets a level of assurance sufficient for cross-border recognition.
Broader demand for biometric upgrades in Africa
The Kyrgyz export aligns with a broader wave of identity document modernization across Africa. On 21 February 2025, Ethiopia officially launched a new biometric e-passport system and integrated digital visa service. Meanwhile, a bloc of West African military-led states announced plans to roll out their own biometric passports following their exit from ECOWAS, highlighting growing regional interest in secure document solutions.
While Kyrgyzstan’s production volume remains modest and future contracts are still in early stages, the move opens new opportunities for economic diversification and international collaboration. By entering the global identity-document supply chain, Kyrgyzstan positions itself as a Central Asian player in a domain traditionally dominated by larger European and East Asian firms.
Source: Turkmenportal
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By Ali Nassar-Smith
