Canadian Company Partners with Moroccan Firms to Develop Advanced Border Security Systems
Rabat, The Gulf Observer: Canadian defence and armoured vehicle manufacturer Inkas has partnered with security technology provider One Atlantic Solutions to develop advanced border management systems for Morocco and other African countries, according to an announcement by the Canadian Embassy in Rabat on October 9.
The partnership will focus on designing integrated border security systems and transferring technical expertise. One Atlantic Solutions already provides security technologies to public institutions in Morocco and other African countries.
The announcement coincided with a separate agreement between Inkas and Medz, a subsidiary of Morocco’s Caisse de Dépôt et de Gestion (CDG) group, which specialises in developing and managing industrial zones.
The two companies signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) in Marrakech during the Marrakech Airshow, held from October 7 to 10 at the city’s military airbase. The agreement aims to strengthen cooperation between Canadian and Moroccan companies, particularly through the exchange of expertise in strategic industries.
The two agreements highlight potential avenues for collaboration in border security technology, industrial development and technical cooperation between Canadian companies and Moroccan partners.
Integrated Border Management Technology
Inkas is proposing an integrated border management platform designed to help authorities assess travellers before they reach border crossings and monitor their movements after entry.
The system combines electronic travel authorisation, passenger information provided by transport operators and analytical tools to identify travellers who may require additional scrutiny.
Its electronic travel authorisation module collects biographical information and facial images weeks before a planned journey. It then issues digital travel credentials intended to streamline border procedures.
Another component, known as the API-PNR module, gathers Advance Passenger Information (API) and Passenger Name Record (PNR) data from air, land and maritime transport operators. The system can analyse travel itineraries up to 72 hours before departure and flag cases for further assessment.
The platform assigns travellers low-, medium- or high-risk classifications to help border authorities determine which cases warrant additional checks.
An open-source intelligence tool is also designed to map connections among travellers, reservations and individuals already known to security services, potentially providing authorities with a broader understanding of travel patterns before passengers arrive.
Data Protection and Implementation
The proposed technology also raises questions concerning personal data protection, oversight of automated risk assessments and the criteria used to classify travellers, particularly in relation to facial recognition and the processing of personal travel records.
Inkas maintains that national authorities retain ownership and control of passenger data. The company offers three deployment options: cloud-based infrastructure, a dedicated data centre or a command centre.
Under its proposed implementation plan, deployment begins with an assessment of existing systems, followed by a pilot project at a major international airport. The system would subsequently be expanded to cover all national entry points.
The company estimates that implementation could take several weeks to a few months, depending on the scope and requirements of the project.
The partnerships come as Morocco and Canadian companies explore opportunities to expand cooperation in strategic industries, technology transfer and industrial development, with border management emerging as a potential area of collaboration.
