DUSHANBE, January 26, 2010, Asia-Plus -- The National Bank of Tajikistan (NBT) plans to launch a large-scale campaign on demobilizing dilapidated banknotes this year.

Speaking to reporters, the NBT head Sharif Rahimzoda noted yesterday that issuing and putting money into circulation and immobilizing dilapidated banknotes is one of functions of the regulating bank of the country.

“Unfortunately, it is not so easy to immobilize dilapidated banknotes,” said the central bank head, “Cash is in circulation mainly at markets and rarely goes though the banking system.  People are not in hurry to bring even torn banknotes to bank,” Rahimzoda said.

According to him, 319,800 million somoni of dilapidated banknote was immobilized in 2009.  In the meantime, 827,500 million somoni were put into circulation in the country over the report period.

The total volume of cash money in circulation now is 2.0524 billion somoni (2.0335 billion somoni in banknotes and 18.9 million somoni in coins), the NBT said.