Officials from Southeast Asian central banks, mints, and equipment and materials suppliers gathered in Pattaya to discuss and exchange information on monetary issues facing the minting industry at the 16th Technical Meeting of Mints in ASEAN.
Representatives from 10 Association of Southeast Asian Nations countries joined more than 170 others at the Dusit Thani Hotel May 28 for the seven-day summit. The Royal Thai Mint, which hosted the program, hoped to use the meeting to showcase Thailand’s ability to become a center for minting in the region.
Treasury Department Director-General Naris Chaiyasoot presents his grand opening speech at the 16th Technical Meeting of Mints in ASEAN.
“The 16th meeting marks another stepping stone of TEMAN and the minting history in Thailand,” said Treasury Department Director-General Naris Chaiyasoot. “TEMAN’s spirit is not only about learning, sharing and exchanging information, but also showcasing the latest technology in producing coins from coin-blank manufacturers including machineries and equipment, as well as demonstrating the coins and medals production in Thailand to reflect the kingdom’s potential as the leading skillful producer and oldest countries to produce coins and medals in Asia.”
Naris said that the mint hopes to produce coins and medals for Southeast Asian countries that do not have their own mints. Doing so could generate 10 billion baht for the country once the ASEAN Economic Community begins in 2015, he added.
The meeting’s main, three-day conference saw presentations of 21 papers covering the “future of money,” coinage material and security, development and innovation in the minting industry, process improvement, and advancements in plating.
The Treasury Department presented commemorative coins to all the delegates and offered them for sale as well. The copper and silver coins range in price from 600 baht to 3,500 baht and remain on sale at the Dusit Thani.
