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2023 Review - All Eyes on Africa as Egypt Hosts Spectacular ACF

The COVID-delayed African Currency Forum (ACF) finally took place two years and a few months later than originally planned in Luxor, Egypt from 15-18 January, attracting 305 delegates from 46 countries, including 25 central banks and state printworks from Africa itself.

This Forum was hosted by the Central Bank of Egypt (CBE) Printing House on behalf of the Association of African Banknote and Secure Document Printers (AABSDP), whose eight members are the government security printers of Egypt, Morocco, Algeria, Nigeria, Sudan, Zimbabwe, the Democratic Republic of Congo and South Africa.

The attraction of the ACF is its unique mix of technical and industry presentations in plenary sessions, with a specific focus on developments across the African continent, combined with numerous social events where business and industry discussions continue in an informal and relaxed environment and friendships are established.

This ACF was no exception. The programme covered the latest developments in design, features, substrates and technology, whilst the social events took in visits to some of the unique historical monuments of Luxor, once the capital of ancient Egypt. A particular highlight was the opportunity to visit the recently completed Printing House and Cash Centre, situated in the New Administration City near Cairo.

The conference was opened by Eng Khaled Farouk, Sub Governor, CBE Printing House, and the scene was then set by a presentation from Currency News covering the developments in Africa since the last ACF (in September 2018 in Zimbabwe). Africa accounts for 35% of the world’s currencies and denominations (43 and 243 respectively). Over the course of the last four years, 30 out of the 43 currencies have seen at last one change, be it in the form of new series (11), upgrades and redesigns to one or more denominations (9), the replacement of notes with coin (3), new denominations (6), commemorative notes (3), switch of substrate from paper to polymer (5) or polymer to paper (2), and changes to coin design or composition (3).
The plenary sessions that followed covered secure technology and banknote developments, along with developments in diffractive technologies. That evening delegates dressed in traditional djellabas took boats to Amira Island in the Nile to enjoy Egyptian food and entertainment.

Banknote technology and machinery was the topic next morning followed, in the afternoon, by a tour guided coach ride to the West Bank to visit three tombs in the Valley of the Kings and Queens, and the temple of Queen Hatshepsut, returning via a boat trip on the Nile to witness the sunset.

The final day’s plenary sessions included banknote trends towards sustainability, banknote printing in Africa and cash and CBDCs, and ended with a panel discussion on sustainability. The Gala Dinner which took place in Karnak Temple included an historical light and sound show, and a presentation by the world-renowned archaeologist and Egyptologist Dr Mostafa Waziri. An unforgettable night.

The majority of attendees arose very early next morning to board a charter flight which made history as the first commercial flight to land at the Administrative Capital City’s new airport. The visit to the CBE’s new Printing House and Cash Centre, a state of the art currency hub for the country, impressed all with the scale of its technology and automation.

The printworks houses four new printing, varnishing and numbering lines from Koenig & Bauer Banknote Solutions, each line capable of producing c. 1.2 billion banknotes a year (on a three shift / 24 hour basis), although as yet the machines are only running on a single shift basis. There is an identical print room to the one currently in use but providing space for expansion, so the eventual capacity could be around 9 billion banknotes a year.

The printworks is connected to the fully automated cash centre by a 290m tunnel. The cash centre has two vaults with a capacity of 1 billion notes, 12 high speed banknote sorters with a processing capacity of 20 million notes per day and banknote destruction and briquetting systems with a capacity of 0.7 tonnes per hour. 1.4 km of conveyor belts connect all the functional areas of the cash centre, including the 12 loading bays with a receiving capacity of 25 million notes per day, along with eight AGVs.

The €260 million project was awarded to Giesecke+Devrient and, starting in 2018, took four years to complete. Considering that construction took place in an area with limited infrastructure, in a city that at the time didn’t exist and, for much of the time, during the pandemic, the successful execution of the project was nothing short of remarkable.

The Forum ended with an appropriately named Celebration Dinner in reference to the printworks and cash centre. But delegates could be forgiven for thinking it was to celebrate the whole, impressive, never to be forgotten, event.

Th next ACF is due to be hosted by Sudan Currency Printing Press, who has taken over the chairmanship of the AABSDP from the CBE. The dates and location are to be confirmed.

Access to the presentations is limited to ACF2023 attendees, please use the password which was provided by the events@recon-intl.com

Video Review of ACF2023

Our Attendees

Artazn

USA

Banca d’Italia

Italy

Banco de Moçambique

Mozambique

Bank Al-Maghrib

Morocco

Bank of Algeria – Hotel des Monnaies

Algeria

Bank of England

United Kingdom

Bank of Ghana

Ghana

Bank of Namibia

Namibia

Bank of Tanzania

Tanzania

Bank of Uganda

Uganda

Bank of Zambia

Zambia

Banque Centrale des Etats de l’Afrique de l’Ouest

Senegal

Banque de France

France

Bayerisches Hauptmünzamt

Germany

Bundesdruckerei GmbH

Germany

Canadian Bank Note (CBN)

Canada

CCL Secure

Australia

Central Bank of Congo

Congo (Democratic Republic)

Central Bank of Egypt

Egypt

Central Bank of Iraq

Iraq

Central Bank of Liberia

Liberia

Central Bank of Libya

Libya

Central Bank of Madagascar

Madagascar

Central Bank of Mauritania

Mauritania

Central bank of Montenegro

Montenegro

Central Bank of Nigeria

Nigeria

Central Bank of Oman

Oman

Central Bank of Somalia

Somalia

Central Bank of Sudan

Sudan

Central Bank of Tunisia

Tunisia

Central Bank UAE

UAE

Corit International

Austria

Crane Currency

USA

Currency Research

United Kingdom

De La Rue

United Kingdom

Delta Trading

Egypt

Fidelity Gold Refinery

Zimbabwe

FineTunes

France

FUJIFILM Unigraphica AG

Liechtenstein

G+D Currency Technology

Germany

GWT Gesellschaft für Wasser- und Wärmetechnik Gmb

Austria

Hueck Folien GmbH

Austria

IN Groupe

France

INORCOAT

Bulgaria

International Association of Currency Affairs (IACA)

USA

International Mint And Print

IQ Structures

Czech Republic

Jura

Austria

Koenig & Bauer Banknote Solutions SA

Switzerland

Komori Corporation

Japan

KURZ

Germany

Landqart

Switzerland

Louisenthal

Germany

Luminescence Sun Chemical Security

United Kingdom

Mennica Polska SA

Poland

META Materials

Canada

Ministry of Finance

Mauritania

Monnaie de Paris

France

National Bank of Georgia

Georgia

Nigerian Security Printing and Minting

Nigeria

Oberthur Fiduciaire

France

Orell Füssli

Switzerland

Oumolat Security Printing CBUAE

United Arab Emirates

P. Barreau Advest

Switzerland

Pakistan Security Printing Corporation

Pakistan

PARVIS

Italy

Philopateer Sàrl

Switzerland

PWPW

Poland

Reserve Bank of Malawi

Malawi

Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe

Zimbabwe

Royal Canadian Mint

Canada

Royal Dutch Kusters Engineering – Africa

Kenya

Royal Dutch Kusters Engineering B.V.

Netherlands

Secura Monde International

United Kingdom

Security Fibres UK

United Kingdom

Security Printing & Minting Corporation of India Limited

India

SICPA

Switzerland

Sidhom

Egypt

South African Banknote Company

South Africa

South African Reserve Bank

South Africa

Spectra Systems

USA

SPMCIL

India

Stardust Materials LLC

Estonia

Sudan Currency Printing Press

Sudan

SURYS

France

TAWADA LIMITED

Nigeria

The Royal Mint

United Kingdom

Tissot Strategy & Development

Switzerland

Veridos

Germany

WTG Water Treatment GmbH

Austria

Zambia Educational Publishing House

Zambia

Zeiser GmbH

Germany

Programme

Access to the presentations is limited to ACF2023 attendees, please use the password which was provided by the events@recon-intl.com

Sunday 15 January

12:00 – 20:00 – Registration Open at Steigenberger Hotel

18:00 – Welcome Reception – Themed event, cocktails, dinner with music and entertainment at the Sonesta Hotel — sponsored by Oberthur Fiduciaire

Monday 16 January

Conference Welcome

09:00

Welcome Message

David Tidmarsh

Reconnaissance International (UK)

Fadi Saadallah

Philopateer (Switzerland)

09:15

Keynote 1

Khaled Farouk

Central Bank of Egypt (Egypt)

09:35

Keynote 2

Mohamed Amer

Central Bank of Egypt (Egypt)

09:55

Overview of Currency Developments from 2018 to 2022 in Africa

Astrid Mitchell

Currency News (UK)

10:15 – Q&A

10:30 – Opening of the Exhibition and Coffee Break

Session 1 : Secure Technology and Banknote Developments (with Sustainability)

11:15

The Right Choice?

Tod Niedeck

Crane (USA)

11:35

Securing Paper Banknote -Durable, Natural, Sustainable

Christophe Montet

Oberthur Fiduciaire (France)

Guillaume Chapeau

Oberthur Fiduciaire

11:55

Banknote Substrate Performance and its Implications on Sustainability

Dr Daniel Schwarzbach

Orell Fussli (Switzerland)

12:15

Sustainability – Responsibility and Design

Richard Perera

Landqart (Switzerland)

12:35 – Q&A

12:50 – Lunch

Session 2: Developments in Diffractive Technologies

13:50

KINEGRAM Security Features from Kurz – The Clearest and Most Intuitive Mark of the Genuine Banknote

Ian Smith

Leonhard KURZ Stiftung & Co. KG (Germany)

14:10

KolourOptik®: Security Feature Innovation through Art & Science

Neal Skura

META Materials (Canada)

14:30

Shaping the Light to Secure Your Banknote

Alexandre Noizet

SURYS (France)

14:50

Black hole in a DOVID

Robert Dvorak

IQ Structures (Czech Republic)

15:10

Explore the spirit of Gizeh

Jan Hofmann

Hueck Folien (Austria)

15:30 – Q&A

15:45 – Coffee Break and Exhibition

15:45 – AABSDP meeting

19:15 – Dinner on Amira Island by Boats Leaving from the Sonesta Hotel – sponsored by Landqart

Tuesday 17 January

Session 3: Banknote Technology and Machinery Update

09:00

A Unique Solutions Provider to Banknote Production

Jonas Baumann

Koenig & Bauer (Switzerland)

Ana Laura Aranda

Koenig & Bauer (Switzerland)

09:20

Steel Plates for Intaglio Printing

Barna Barabas

JURA (Hungary)

09:40

Banknote Production Data Analysis

Paolo Salgari

PARVIS (Italy)

10:00

Komori In Africa – A Rising Sun?

Phil Holland

Komori Corporation (Japan)

10:20

Future of Sequential Numbering

Thorsten Tritschler

ZEISER (Germany)

10:40 – Q&A

10:55 – Coffee Break, Exhibition and Snacks

12:00 – Valley of the Kings and Queens – Buses leave Steigenberger at 12.00. Return from Valley of Kings by 4 large boats. Nile Cruise and Food Return to hotel – sponsored by De La Rue

20:00 – Dinner in Steigenberger sponsored by De La Rue

Wednesday 18 January

Session 4: Banknotes: Trending Towards Sustainability?

09:00

Towards a More Secure , Efficient and Sustainable Cash Cycle

Zeina Abdo

SICPA (Switzerland)

Joe Saliba

SICPA (Switzerland)

09:20

Banknotes of the Future

Alan Newman

De La Rue (UK)

09:40

The Magic Triangle: Banknote Solutions Must be Sustainable

Andrew Forbes

Louisenthal (Germany)

10:00

SUSTAINABILITY Advantages of Polymer Banknotes

Lachlan McDonald

CCL Secure (Australia)

10:20

SHIELD, Protecting Your Banknotes to the African Climate(s)

Gerben van Wijk, Gerben van Wijk

Luminescence Sun Chemical, International Tax Stamp Association (UK, UK)

10:40 – Q&A

10:55 – Coffee and Exhibition

Session 5: Banknote Printing in Africa – Case Studies and Benchmarking

11:25

Modernisation of Production Tool

Ahmed Lemrhabbar

Bank al Maghrib Dar As-Sikkah (Morocco)

11:45

Using Digitisation to Enhance Substrate Specification Towards Improved Print Performance

Dr. Ashvir Narrandes

South African Banknote Company (South Africa)

12:05

Sustainability in Currency Production and Waste Management

Ahmed Halilu

Nigerian Security Printing and Minting Plc (Nigeria)

12:25 – Q&A

13:20 – Lunch

Session 6: Cash or CBDC’s or Both

14:30

Innovations and Solutions With an Outlook on CBDC

Dieter Sauter

Bundesdruckerei (Germany)

14:50

Cash and CBDC

Anas El-Mahdi

Giesecke + Devrient (Germany)

15:10 – Q&A

15:15 – Coffee Break and Exhibition

Session 7: Sustainability – The Challenge and Opportunities for the Cash Industry

15:25 – Panel Discussion

  • Jeroen Kusters, Royal Dutch Kusters Engineering
  • Ahmed Halilu, Nigerian Security Printing and Minting
  • Etienne Couëlle, Oberthur Fiduciaire
  • Alexandra Peppmeier, Giesecke + Devrient

16:45 – AABSDP meeting

18:45 – Gala Dinner @ Karnak Temple – Coaches leave Steigenberger at 18:45 sponsored by Crane Currency

Thursday 19 January

Visit to New Print Works, Vault and Cash Centre followed by Celebration Dinner

Charter flight to New Cairo Airport sponsored by Koenig & Bauer and Giesecke+Devrient

6:00 Onwards meet in Hotel Lobby

06:30 – 07:00 Leave Hotel Lobby for Airport

07:00 – 08:00 Boarding

08:00 – 09:30 Flight to New Capital Airport

09:30 – 10:15 Transfer to the St. Regis Hotel

10.15 – 11:00 Cocktail Reception in the Conference Centre

11:00 – 12:00 G+D Presentation

12:00 – Room Check in and Buffet Available in Restaurant

12:00 – 15.00 –Delegates will be split into 10 groups, leaving every 20 minutes to the Banknote Printing House and Cash Centre. Meanwhile check in and lunch will be served at the hotel before departures or arrivals of designated groups.

Upon Returning From the Tour Everyone Free to use Hotel Facilities.

19:30 – Drinks Reception

20:00 – Celebration Dinner – sponsored by  Giesecke+Devrient
(Special music concert sponsored by Giesecke+Devrient and Delta Trading)


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