CBK 對數十億先令硬幣鑄造招標候選人進行資格預審

肯亞中央銀行（CBK）已開始對價值數十億先令的鑄幣招標候選人進行資格預審，由於過去圍繞其採購實踐的爭議，此舉受到密切關注。

The Central Bank of Kenya (CBK) has invited applications from coin minters for prequalification in a multibillion-shilling tender.

肯亞中央銀行 (CBK) 已邀請鑄幣廠申請資格預審，招標金額達數十億先令。

This move comes amid scrutiny of past controversies surrounding the bank's procurement practices.

此舉是在對過去圍繞該銀行採購實踐的爭議進行審查之際做出的。

The pre-qualification process aims to identify qualified candidates for the hotly contested tender, which will be awarded to a qualified coin minter.

資格預審過程旨在為競爭激烈的投標確定合格的候選人，並將投標授予合格的鑄幣廠。

This public tender contrasts with the previously much-criticised $109.42 million (Sh15 billion) tender for new currency notes, which was awarded to a German firm, Giesecke+Devrient Currency Technologies (G+D), amid concerns about a lack of transparency in the tendering process.

這次公開招標與先前備受批評的價值1.0942 億美元（150 億先令）的新紙幣招標形成鮮明對比，該招標被授予一家德國公司Giesecke+Devrient 貨幣技術公司(G+D)，原因是人們擔心該項目缺乏透明度。

“The Central Bank of Kenya intends to prequalify candidates for coin minting services,” CBK said.

「肯亞中央銀行打算對鑄幣服務候選人進行資格預審，」CBK 表示。

“A minimum requirement for qualification is to have successfully carried out Coin Design, Minting and Supply services in the past to a Central bank or currency-issuing authority.”

“資格的最低要求是過去曾成功為中央銀行或貨幣發行機構提供過硬幣設計、鑄造和供應服務。”

This public tender marks a shift towards a more transparent approach by the CBK.

此次公開招標標誌著 CBK 向更透明的方式轉變。

READ: CBK unveils updated banknotes

閱讀：CBK 推出更新版紙幣

CBK Governor Kamau Thugge earlier defended the secrecy, citing the sensitive nature of currency printing and the need to protect national security, which critics say could lead to corruption and unfair practices.

CBK 行長 Kamau Thugge 早些時候為保密性進行了辯護，理由是貨幣印刷的敏感性和保護國家安全的需要，批評者稱這可能導致腐敗和不公平行為。

“The classified procurement process for currency became necessary on account of… an imminent stockout of the banknotes, particularly the Sh1,000, which would have resulted in serious economic and security implications for the country,” Dr Thugge said.

Thugge 博士表示：“由於紙幣即將缺貨，尤其是 1000 先令，貨幣的分類採購流程變得必要，這將給國家帶來嚴重的經濟和安全影響。”

“There was thus an urgent need for the currency procurement. The previous supply contract had lapsed and Dela Rue had already shut down the Nairobi factory and dismissed all the staff.”

「因此迫切需要貨幣採購。之前的供應合約已經失效，德拉魯已經關閉了內羅畢工廠並解雇了所有員工。

Auditor General Nancy Gathungu, in a recent report, raised concerns about the lack of competitive bidding in the previous tender.

審計長南希·加通古 (Nancy Gathungu) 在最近的一份報告中對上次招標中缺乏競爭性招標表示擔憂。

This public prequalification process for coin minting appears to address those concerns by allowing any eligible coin minter to participate.

這種硬幣鑄造的公開資格預審程序似乎透過允許任何符合條件的硬幣鑄造商參與來解決這些問題。

De La Rue Plc suspended its printing operations in Kenya in 2023, citing reduced orders and a poor economic climate, paving the way for German banknote printer Giesecke & Devrient.

De La Rue Plc 於 2023 年暫停了在肯亞的印刷業務，理由是訂單減少和經濟狀況不佳，為德國紙幣印刷商 Giesecke & Devrient 鋪平了道路。

De La Rue recently revealed that it took a hit of Sh2.1 billion in winding down its Kenya operations following the loss of business.

De La Rue 最近透露，由於業務損失，該公司在關閉肯亞業務方面遭受了 21 億先令的打擊。

“In financial year (FY) 23, the Group announced that owing to current market demand, and no expectation of new banknote orders from the Central Bank of Kenya for at least the next 12 months, De La Rue Kenya (a subsidiary with a material non-controlling interest held by the Government of Kenya) has suspended banknote printing operations in the country,” it said on December 12.

「在第 23 財年，集團宣布，由於目前的市場需求，並且預計至少在未來 12 個月內不會收到來自肯亞中央銀行的新紙幣訂單，De La Rue Kenya（一家擁有材料的子公司）肯亞政府持有的非控股權益）已暫停該國的印鈔業務，」該公司12 月12 日表示。

“As a result of the mothballing of operations in Kenya, an exceptional charge of £1.3 million was made in H1 24, including redundancy charges of £0.2 million, property, plant and equipment asset impairments of £1.1 million and other costs of £0.1 million, offset by £0.1 million of proceeds from the sale of previously impaired inventories.”

「由於肯亞業務的封存，24 年上半年產生了 130 萬英鎊的特殊費用，其中包括 20 萬英鎊的裁員費用、110 萬英鎊的財產、廠房和設備資產減值以及 0.1 英鎊的其他成本百萬英鎊，並被出售先前受損庫存的收益10 萬英鎊所抵消。

“No costs were incurred in relation to H1 25. Since this program commenced, £13.8 million of costs have been incurred in relation to this. No further costs are expected in relation to this project in FY25.”

「25 年上半年沒有產生任何費用。自該計劃開始以來，已產生了 1380 萬英鎊的相關費用。預計 2025 財年該項目不會產生更多費用。

The German firm, which is now printing the new-look currency notes, had previously been involved in a bitter fight with De La Rue, which had a stranglehold on Kenya’s lucrative money printing business except for the period between 1966 and 1985 when another UK firm, Bradbury Wilkinson, did the job.

目前正在印製新版紙幣的德國公司此前曾與 De La Rue 展開過激烈的鬥爭，De La Rue 控制著肯尼亞利潤豐厚的印鈔業務，除了 1966 年至 1985 年期間，另一家英國公司布拉德伯里·威爾金森完成了這項工作。

Other firms which fought for lucrative currency printing contracts include Crane Currency (United States) and Oberthur Fiduciaire of France.

其他爭奪利潤豐厚的貨幣印刷合約的公司包括克瑞貨幣公司（美國）和法國的歐貝特信託公司。

The latest CBK coin minting prequalification document outlines the minimum requirements, including a successful track record of supplying coins to central banks or currency issuing authorities.

最新的 CBK 鑄幣資格預審文件概述了最低要求，包括向中央銀行或貨幣發行機構供應硬幣的成功記錄。

“Only candidates prequalified under this prequalification process will be considered for invitation to tender for Coin design, minting and supply,” said CBK.

CBK 表示：“只有根據資格預審程序獲得資格預審的候選人才會被考慮邀請進行硬幣設計、鑄造和供應招標。”

“Canvassing or lobbying for the prequalification of the above tender directly or through a proxy shall lead to automatic disqualification of the bidder.”

“直接或透過代理人拉票或遊說上述投標的資格預審將導致投標人自動取消資格。”

Governance experts say the CBK faces the challenge of balancing transparency with the need to maintain some level of confidentiality in the coin minting process.

治理專家表示，CBK 面臨著平衡透明度與在鑄幣過程中保持一定程度保密性的需要的挑戰。

The tender documents are likely to contain sensitive information about the specifications and security features of the coins.

招標文件可能包含有關硬幣規格和安全特徵的敏感資訊。