SUVA, Sept. 2 (Xinhua) -- The Fiji Immigration Department and a group of technical officials from the Muhlbauer ID Services in Germany are working around the clock to put in the final touches to the much-awaited e-passport system.

According to a release from the Department of Information on Monday, Fiji Immigration Department is expected to rollout the first 5,000 e-passports next week. The introduction of e-passports is part of the government's efforts of embracing appropriate and new technology for productivity improvement.

Appropriate new technology will be adopted to raise overall efficiency and productivity and to improve service delivery across all sectors, as stipulated in the country's national development plan.

Permanent Secretary for the Office of Prime Minister Yogesh Karan said that series of tests are to be conducted. About a month ago, they had the factory acceptance test in Germany and this was done to help staff familiarize themselves with the new system. The result of this test was successful.

"We are continuing with integration and testing and this virtually means that the system must be compatible with the international border management system. If all goes according to plan, we will be having our final test this Friday," Karan said.

Karan called on members of the public to bear with the process as the department was doing its best to provide a more efficient and effective e-passport system for all Fijians.

Meanwhile, those with the old passports can still use them and applications for new ones will also be facilitated.