ETHIOPIA: NBE Awarded Oberthur Technologies Currency Printing Contract

The National Bank of Ethiopia have awarded Oberthur Technologies, a French currency printing company,  printing contract of five Birr notes worth three billion Ethiopian Birr, Fortune reported.

French currency printing company

The Central Bank selected  the company three weeks ago, out of five companies which participated in the bid. The German-based, Gieseck & Devrient; Switzerland’s, Swiss Crane; the Swedish, EnSKEDE and the UK’s, De La Rue, responded to the tender, along with Oberthur Technologies.

The UK’s, De La Rue, has previously printed one and five Birr notes, whereas Oberthur Technologies had supplied 50 and 100 Birr notes.

The Banks selection committee picked Oberthur Technologies for offering US$22 for 1,000 units of notes.

Oberthur has been in business for almost 200 years.  The company made its name as a printer that took on national projects, such as printing France’s first ever telephone directory.

Source: Fortune