EMEA Cash Cycle Seminar (ICCOS) 2022 Heads to Istanbul

The EMEA Cash Cycle Seminar (ICCOS) was again held in a virtual format at the start of November. Despite this, the event attracted nearly 200 registrations based in around 40 countries and representing 77 different organisations. As usual for ICCOS the organisations participating were predominantly banks (37) and CIT/CMC companies (13).

The event focused on several critical themes including cash trends at local, regional and global levels (presentations from DNB, ECB, Banque de France, HSBC), developments in Access to Cash (Enryo, Geldmaat, Sonect), and developments in optimisation and sustainability (HSBC and Garanti BBVA).

A particularly interesting session was McKinsey’s presentation of its report commissioned by DNB examining the future of the Dutch cash infrastructure system. One of the interesting conclusions drawn, and expanded on in the presentation, was the inability of cash to function as a contingency in the Netherlands.

This theme was picked up and developed by Enryo, DNB and Bank of Israel in a discussion examining legislation and regulation and the role of the central bank regarding the subsidisation of the cash distribution system.

The next event will be held as a fully in person event in Istanbul, 31 May-2 June 2022 and will focus on Cash Trends, Alternative Distribution Systems and Commercial Models, Regulation and Access to Cash.

More information is available at www.iccos.com.

Update on 2022 Banknote & Currency Conference

Meanwhile, Currency Research reports that, with the anticipated first conference of the global cash industry in nearly three years fast approaching, sponsorship for the event is almost sold out.

Shaun Ferrari, Co -Chair of the Banknote & Currency Conference commented: ‘we are thrilled at the level of support we are receiving from central banks, printworks, and the wider global currency industry in hosting the largest, longest-running, well-respected, and most importantly independent, gathering of currency leaders in nearly three years.’ ‘While our virtual events over the past couple of years have been successful in keeping the industry connected and sharing knowledge and information,’ he added, ‘they are no substitute for in person networking with peers. We have an exciting and expanded programme of educational and social events to facilitate as much connection as possible.’ 

The pre-event programme consists of specialised sessions including The Polymer Users Summit, The State Printworks Summit, and the Circulating Coin Workshop.

Three full days of programming and networking events will follow with themes focusing on Developments in Issuance & Production, Currency & Coin Developments in the Cash Cycle, Perception Studies, Communication & Education, Global Efforts on Counterfeit Deterrence, Reducing the Ecological Footprint of Banknote & Coins, Access to Cash, Payments and Financial Inclusion, and the Roles of Cash & CBDCs.

IACA will also be running its Excellence in Currency Awards, followed by a quick-fire session to look at and hear about the new features and designs included in the many new notes issued around the world since the industry’s last gathering.

The event’s Co-Chair, Michael Lambert, remarks about the agenda that ‘we are very pleased with the scope and breadth of the agenda, and with the outstanding list of speakers from around the world who have confirmed participation in person at the conference. The opportunity to hold in person discussions with colleagues from around the world about policy and technical topics among central banks and broader industry experts will enable rich exchanges that I am looking forward to.’ The event sponsors, comprising some of the leading names and figures in the currency supply industry, will be providing technical presentations on topics including Banknote Processing & Production, COVID Developments, Cash Cycle & Coin Evolution, Cash Tech, AI, Sensor Developments, Security Features, Substrates, Inks, Sustainability and CBDCs.

Tom Mitchell, VP Europe & Africa for Currency Research, commented that ‘there is a common understanding that the Banknote & Currency Conference, in being the first and biggest in person gathering of the industry in three years, is the ideal place to connect with all of your suppliers or customers in one place in one go. We are trying to accommodate as much of the industry as safely possible but despite having reformatted our space, twice, to increase capacity - we are mostly sold out of sponsorships. We thank those who have supported us during COVID and those who are newly signed up – we look forward to seeing you in the exhibits and learning from your expertise in the agenda; and we’re going to put on a good show for you!’ 

Banknote & Currency Conference will conclude with a Networking & Awards Dinner.

Helping attendees maximise the benefit of their trip, after the Banknote & Currency Conference has closed, the inaugural Digital Currency Conference will take place to educate central banks and other interested parties on technology and design aspects of digital currencies (including CBDC).

As of early November, the event already counts around 50 in person presenters and about 450 attendees registered (including representatives from over 50 central banks) with numbers climbing daily. Because of pre-event workshops, the event dinner, and the hotel room block reaching capacity, attendees are encouraged to register as soon as possible to avoid disappointment.

Further information can be found here.