Accra, Dec. 10, GNA - An European printing firm well-known for the printing of security documents like electronic passports and various identification cards, on Thursday announced a search for partnership with printing organizations in Africa.

The organization, Garsu Pasaulis, based in Lithuania, said they had already started a partnership programme with an Accra-based printing press and other printing houses in Africa and expected to undertake more partnerships.

Mr. Vytautas Mieliauskas, Managing Director of Garsu Pasaulis, at a forum in Accra to present some bio-metric identity documents printed by the company said management envisaged that sooner or later, all governments would pay attention to security documents.

He explained that bio-metric documents were not limited to passports but also visas, driving licence, postage and tax stamps which had technologically advanced features like chips built into them. Mr. Mieliauskas said the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) an organization that regulated civil aviation programmes had announced that all countries should begin issuing only machine readable passports not later than April 2010 and added that the company was well placed to help achieve that.

"Garsu Pasaulis will help governments make a smooth transition from the use of ordinary passports to the use of electronic passports," he added. Mr. Humphrey Aquaye, the Ghanaian partner, said the organization would soon invite a delegation from Ghana to Lithuania to have a first hand experience of the company's operations.