In this periodic series of articles covering cash information in central bank annual reports, this month we take a look Down Under, with a review of the reports from Australia and New Zealand.

Security Printing & Minting Corporation of India Ltd recently released its 2023/24 Annual Report, registering a rise in production, but a small drop to Rs 47.14 billion (US$555 million). Costs were up 7.7% to Rs 36.95 billion.

Most central banks will classify their counterfeit banknotes to determine the types of threats presented by the counterfeiters. This may be as simple as identifying the printing processes on the counterfeit as digital or traditional. Or it could be an in-depth analysis of the individual characteristics of the printed image along with the security feature simulations.

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has extended the deadline for responses to its Expression of Interest (EOI) for services related to the modernisation of India’s currency management infrastructure 4 December 2024.

Many countries and regions are strengthening regulations to control environmental pollutants, chromium being a case in point as its emissions significantly impact the environment and human health. As a result, numerous countries have implemented strict standards and control measures to reduce chromium pollution.

A functioning cash supply is a stabilising factor in our society, both in normal times and especially in times of crisis. At the same time, the demands for a robust and efficient cash circulation system are increasing.

In a comprehensive modernisation of its currency system, Denmark is undertaking an ambitious series of changes that reflect its unique position as both a digital payment pioneer and a steadfast protector of cash rights.

SICPA unveiled the latest version of its SPARK® technology – SPARK Flow® STREAM – at the recent Global Currency Forum in Oman.

The Coin Conference 2024 – which focuses on the future of circulating coinage and its challenges – took place in 28-30 October in Lisbon, Portugal. Organised by the publishers of Currency News™, the conference hosted more than 200 delegates, from 102 organisations across 42 countries, with 40% from central banks, monetary authorities and treasury departments.

Banknote expert and author Antti Heinonen has written a new book on the history of Finnish money, focusing on international and particularly German influences in the early development of Finnish means of payment.

The introduction of a new series of banknotes in Pakistan next year, enhanced with advanced security features and modern designs, has the potential to play a transformative role in the country’s economic landscape.

De La Rue has announced that it will sell its Authentication Division to Crane NXT for a cash consideration representing an enterprise value of £300 million.

China Banknote Printing and Minting has been implementing a series of clean production and carbon reduction measures in the production of raw materials such as paper, thread, and ink, in order to make the production of the renminbi and other currencies more environmentally friendly.

The Central Bank of Samoa is issuing limited-edition commemorative banknotes, designed and printed by De La Rue, honouring Samoa’s historic hosting of the 2024 Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM), held in Apia, Samoa from 21-26 October 2024.

New Zealand’s Commerce Commission has cleared the way for Evergreen NZ Holdings to acquire 100% of the shares of ACM New Zealand. Evergreen already owns Armourguard, the country’s dominant supplier of CIT and related service, and the acquisition of ACM from its parent Linfox Armaguard will create a monopoly.

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has announced a comprehensive plan to revamp its currency management infrastructure over the next 4-5 years, mainly to ensure adequate storage and handling capacity to cater to the growing economy’s future cash needs.

Sesami Cash Management Technologies Corporation, a subsidiary of security services firm Gardaworld, has acquired the UK-based Consillion Group (previously known as Banking Automation), a provider of cash automation systems which also operates in Australia, New Zealand, and Singapore.

In last month’s issue of Currency News, we provided details of Oberthur Fiduciaire’s new house note series, on the theme of the Art of Butterflies, comprising five different designs and five different security threads printed on one sheet.

Giesecke+Devrient first unveiled its new Banknote Fiber Extractor® (BFE) in July 2023, which extracts fibres from banknote waste that is suitable for high end repurposing. It has now announced the achievement of another milestone – namely the successful conversion in the first real-life test case of fibres from old banknotes into high quality cardboard at an industrial scale.

Currency Research, organiser of the upcoming EMEA Cash Cycle (ICCOS) & Payments Seminar in Cape Town, South Africa (25-28 November), says this year’s edition is shaping up to be one of the best-attended regional cash events in years.