Senior Maldives officials have confirmed that the new ID card can also be used for payments and egovernment functions.Mohamed Anwar, the Controller General of Maldives Immigration, said that "the door is open" for government departments and private companies to use the new Passport Card to deliver services in the future.The ID card is certified by both the Bank of Maldives and MasterCard, which means that users will be able to use this card for payments anywhere in the world.The card features contactless and contact card reading, and is made of a polycarbonate material that lasts up to ten years – much longer than standard bank cards.Similar attempts by countries in the Asia Pacific region to introduce multi-purpose ID cards have seen mixed success. Indonesia was to have launched electronic ID cards last September, but progress was hampered due to corruption, noted Vice President Jusuf Kalla.
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