Japan has won a contract to mint coins worth $12 million for Bangladesh, the first order Tokyo has landed for coins in circulation in any foreign country since the end of World War II, the Finance Ministry said today.
Japan Mint will make 500 million ‘2 taka’ coins for the south Asian country starting early next year.
The state-affiliated firm won the contract with its central bank for about $6.5 million in international bidding held in July also joined by Slovakia, the Netherlands, Germany, Britain and Spain.
This is the first time Japan has received an order to make coins actually circulating in other countries. It has previously minted some memorial coins such as ones commemorating the anniversary of diplomatic relations with New Zealand and Sri Lanka.
Promoting its minting technique, Japan Mint has been attempting to win orders abroad as the production volume of yen coins falls amid the diffusion of electronic money in Japan.