Five applications for universal electronic card are realised in Bashkortostan

Bashkortostan among one of the first regions of Russia emitted 1550 universal electronic cards. This hi-tech innovation will become simultaneously an identification card and payment instrument, it will be possible to receive the information by these cards in special information kiosks.

The head of Agency on Information Technologies Ildar Yamalov said about work on introduction of the universal card at the session of the Government RB on December 11.

“The universal electronic card is one of formats of services rendering,” he reported. “Points of applications submission for cards issuance are organised, 1550 cards are emitted, service channels are prepared. Five applications are realised.

Nevertheless, it is early to speak about good development of the project and mass issuance of the cards. There are some deficiencies and drawbacks. In particular, the mechanism of co-financing at the expense of the federal budget is not clear; some technical matters are not fulfilled. The universal card can become an instrument of payment only with assistance of banks, but for today arrangements with the largest banks are not reached yet.”