Representatives from Central Banks and financial departments of ten Pacific Island nations are set to descend upon Canberra for a Coinage Seminar organised by the Royal Australian Mint.
The four day seminar, which runs from 18 – 21 September 2012, includes sessions examining the future of coins in a changing world, features of a successful coinage system, what constitutes "good" and "bad" coins and what improvements may be made to existing coinage systems.
"The Royal Australian Mint has been working with Pacific Island nations over the past two years on coinage reform," said the Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasurer, the Hon Bernie Ripoll MP.
"I am particularly pleased that representatives from two Pacific Island nations which have recently undertaken successful coinage reforms, Samoa and the Solomon Islands, will be sharing their experiences with their Pacific Island colleagues," said Mr Ripoll.
The seminar is aimed at developing the understanding of international coinage issues and trends, and to equip Pacific Island officials with the necessary knowledge and tools to evaluate the effectiveness of their own coinage system.
"I commend the Royal Australian Mint for its willingness to share its experiences with other countries within the region," said Mr Ripoll.
"Coinage systems impact on ordinary people at the most basic level. Without an effective coinage system, everyday transactions become a problem," said Mr Ripoll.
The Pacific Island Coinage Seminar runs from 18 – 21 September 2012, and will be held at various venues in and around Canberra.
For more information about the seminar, including a list of events, please contact Michelle Nakamura on 0418 164 769.
17 September 2012