The Cambodian 15,000 riel banknote has been recognised as the "Best New Banknote" by Reconnaissance International, at its 18th High Security Printing Asia (HSP Asia) Conference in Yokohama, Japan, according to National Bank of Cambodia (NBC) governor Chea Chanto in his letter to Prime Minister Hun Sen on April 8.

The 15,000 riel banknote was issued for circulation in 2019 to commemorate the 15th anniversary of the coronation of King Norodom Sihamoni. It bears the portrait of the King on one side, with images of the "Win-Win" Monument and the King along with the late King Father Norodom Sihanouk and Queen Mother Norodom Monineath Sihanouk during the coronation on the other.

The Council of Ministers’ Press and Quick Reaction Unit said on April 9 that the decision to recognise this banknote was based on the NBC's highly modern technical production of the note, the inclusion of artistic design which reflects the Kingdom’s cultural heritage, and security feature that is highly safe from being counterfeited.

The unit noted that the conference was not an annual event and is held only when a banknote with the highest quality, both in appearance and technical aspects, is issued for circulation.

Founded in 1988, Reconnaissance International is a leading global source of business intelligence on holography and on authentication for document security, personal identification and brand protection.

Chanto said in the letter that after the country reopened, Antonio Cesario Ricdo, deputy director of Landqart AG – a Switzerland-based leading manufacturer of high security paper — had travelled to Cambodia and handed over the "2019 Outstanding Banknote in Asia and the Pacific" award to the NBC.