The official launch of the International Mint Industry Association (IMIA) took place at the World Money Fair in Berlin. The IMIA has been established to promote cash and coin access and acceptance, with six mints as founding members.

A group of organisations from both the coin and banknote sectors have joined forces to support a first-of-its-kind in-depth study into the environmental impact of cash versus digital payments.

IMIA President Gerhard Starsich and Managing Director Martina Horakova spoke to CMN about the foundation of the new association, the role of coins in the cash cycle and how the IMIA plans to make the case for their importance, and indeed that of cash overall.

In August, the MDC (Mint Directors Conference) announced the formation of a new professional association – the International Mint Directors Association (IMDA).