Cambodia Approves New Designs for 50,000 and 100,000 Riel Notes

The National Bank of Cambodia (NBC) has received approval to release redesigned 50,000 and 100,000 riel banknotes, which will enter circulation alongside the current versions of the same denominations. Prime Minister Hun Manet signed a sub-decree authorising the new notes on 25 September.

Economics professor Duch Darin explained that introducing the new notes does not signal any increase in the amount of cash circulating in the economy. Instead, he said, the move is intended to meet growing demand for using the riel. "This supports the aim of making the riel more practical to use across the national economy," he noted.

Why the Notes Are Being Updated

Ly Sideth, the NBC's cash general, said the two notes keep much of their existing look and imagery, with certain features enhanced or newly added. He pointed to two main reasons for the refresh. First, both denominations have been in use for over a decade, with the 50,000 riel note first issued in 2014 and the 100,000 riel note in 2013. Second, the update aims to strengthen the security and visual appeal of the notes in step with today's technology.

New Security Features

According to Sideth, the redesigned notes include several notable security elements:

• The Cambodian royal emblem printed on a holographic strip, making it harder to remove the strip and reuse it on notes of other denominations.
• Denominations shown in both Khmer and Latin numerals, with clear colour separation for the thousands grouping and enlarged Latin numerals.
• A moon-shaped image printed with special ink, added specifically to the 100,000 riel note.