The Central Bank of Uzbekistan to Issue new banknotes with silk threads

Uzbekistan is set to become the first country in the world to develop the technology of incorporating natural silk fibers into banknotes and securities, giving them enhanced protective capabilities, Turanews.kz reports.

According to the press service of the country’s Central Bank, the Ministry of Justice has granted a patent for the invention of protected paper with natural silk fibers.

The invention is credited to specialists from the state unitary enterprise “State Sign,” the association “Uzbekipaksanoat,” and the Tashkent Textile and Light Industry Institute.

This innovation allows for the easy differentiation of the security paper from other types of paper by incorporating natural silk fibers into its protective elements.

“During the production process, natural silk fibers are added to the paper pulp, which is then saturated with a fluorescent solution. When exposed to ultraviolet rays, the silk protein acquires an intensified black color, enabling the paper to be distinguished from counterfeit papers. Moreover, the addition of natural silk fibers significantly increases the strength of the paper,” the Central Bank stated.

The new technology has generated significant interest among international companies that are renowned for their expertise in producing banknotes, protected documents, and papers.