Concept for universal Belarusian digital card unveiled

The concept for a universal Belarusian digital card has been developed, BelTA learned from Mikhail Chashchin, Director of the Informatization Department of the Belarusian Information Technologies and Communications Ministry, during the press conference held on 18 February to discuss communication development and the introduction of new information technologies in Belarus.

“The concept for a universal Belarusian digital card is already available and has been approved. Work is now in progress on the development of the business project, financing, and the project’s launch,” explained the official.

According to Mikhail Chashchin, the universal digital card will provide personal identification, payment functionality, and a system of social services that may include pensions, healthcare, and transportation services. “We are going to allow citizens to choose the options their cards will offer. The cards will not be free and will be able to act as a substitute for a lot of other documents,” he noted.

Specialists of the Information Technologies and Communications Ministry, the Economy Ministry, the Interior Ministry, the Operations and Analysis Center under the Belarus President, and public associations have taken part in the development of the concept of the universal Belarusian digital card. “It is too early to say that these cards will be introduced in Belarus in 2015. No precise timeframe for the project’s implementation is available for now,” stressed Mikhail Chashchin.