IMIA – Making the Case for Cash, and Coins

The International Mint Industry Association (IMIA) was founded last year and officially launched this month at the World Money Fair in Berlin, with a specific focus on research and advocacy for coins as part of the cash, and hence payments, ecosystem. IMIA President Gerhard Starsich (GS) and Managing Director Martina Horakova (MH) spoke to sister publication Coin & Mint News™ 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.

Q: What was the impetus behind the founding of the IMIA? Why now?

GS: It was about time! International card companies and commercial banks invest a lot of money to promote electronic payment products, whereas the promotion of cash by the industry and its consumer and societal benefits has been far too little in comparison.