Addis Ababa, May 20, 2025 (FBC) – The U.S. Embassy in Ethiopia, in partnership with Troy Group, hosted a high-level technology demonstration today to promote advanced document security solutions aimed at strengthening Ethiopia’s institutional modernization and supporting the national digital transformation agenda.
The event, held on the margins of the ID4Africa forum at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Addis Ababa, brought together senior officials from government institutions, regulatory bodies, and security sector actors to explore solutions that address document forgery and promote secure service delivery.
Troy Group, a U.S.-based global security solutions provider, showcased its latest innovations—including encrypted QR codes, UV printing, and SecureDocs software—that help protect critical documents such as birth and death certificates, land titles, marriage records, and educational credentials.
“These documents are often targets for forgery because of weaknesses in the personalization process,” said Mark Bond, Regional Director for Troy Group. “By securing data at the point of issuance with software-integrated hardware and mobile verification tools, we can reduce risks and support the credibility of public documents.”
Troy’s technologies are already in use in Ethiopia through collaborations with CRRSA, the Document Authentication Agency (DARS), and the government printer. The solutions are used in the issuance of vital records and are expected to expand across regional states.
In an interview with Fana Media Corporation, Million Teshome, General Manager of Bizet General Trading—Troy’s local partner—emphasized that Ethiopia is making significant strides in document security while remaining aligned with digital governance goals. “Thanks to the government’s efforts, we are making strong progress in digitization,” he said. “Still, there are important physical documents that must be protected to ensure public trust.”
Million added that the Troy system offers dual benefits by embedding secure digital elements within physical documents. “You can verify the document online using a mobile phone, and the same system generates a digital copy upon printing,” he explained. “This approach supports both verification and archiving, strengthening the overall integrity of public records.”
The U.S. Embassy reaffirmed its commitment to working closely with Ethiopia to support institutional reform, digital governance, and the responsible adoption of emerging technologies.
It was also underscored that document security and authentication are essential pillars of modern governance, noting that Ethiopian government institutions at all levels are working to implement online registration systems.
The event was described as a model of international collaboration, with the partnership between Troy and Ethiopian institutions contributing meaningfully to national capacity building.
This cooperation supports Ethiopia’s broader Digital Ethiopia 2025 Strategy, which seeks to build a digitally empowered and secure public service ecosystem through technology-driven reform and innovation.