AIFMP celebrates India Day during AIP China

Ludhiana: More than 600 printers from India visited the 6th All in Print China held at Shanghai from 18 to 22 October, 2016. This time the theme of the AIP was “Discover the Future of Printing", and the show comprehensively showcased the advancements in printing technologies in recent years, vividly embodying the vitality and dynamic awakened by the latest developments. The trade fair effectively highlights the importance of innovation, upgrading, integration and development in the printing industry. All in Print China 2016provided a “grand feast” for the printing industry.

With an exhibition area of 80,000m2 All in Print China 2016 remained a most successful show with 724 exhibitors from across the world. During the five-day exhibition, AIP was consistently trafficked with domestic and international visitors, totalling 76,818, an increase of 24.2% from 2014. The fair embraced more than 100 domestic associations and enterprise groups, and received above 45 overseas buyer groups from more than 20 countries including the US, Germany, South Korea, Australia, India, the Philippines, Malaysia, Thailand, etc.

On the morning of Oct. 20, India Day was celebrated by the All India Federation of Master Printers (AIFMP). The ceremony was attended by more than 100 Indian Printers and His Excellency, Shri Prakash Gupta, Consul General of India at Shanghai was the Chief Guest. Welcoming the delegates Mr. Alex Bartkus, Messe Dusseldorf, Germany said it is our pleasure to welcome the Indian printers. I am delighted to know that the Indian Printing and Packaging industry is growing at a rapid speed and with 250,000 printing companies India is the leading nation in this trade.

In his introductory remarks, Mr. Anand Limaye, Hon General Secretary of AIFMP said, the huge printing and packaging industry in India has generated a plethora of opportunities for employment in a variety of fields. Both small and large printing units in India have engaged, on an average, ten employees each. This volume itself speaks for its positive impact and contributory efforts towards the economy of our country. The Rs.500 billion industry provides employment to 400 thousand people directly and 1500 thousand people indirectly. Since its inception, AIFMP has diligently toiled to uplift the prestige and influence of the printing and packaging industry, helping it render improved services to the public. In its quest to provide a platform that voices the concerns of the Indian Printing Industry, AIFMP supports, participates in and organises a number of regional, national and international events. These programmes lobby for the interests of the Indian printers and showcase the industry’s achievements. Holding technical seminars to educate printers about current global trends and technologies is also one of its important functions.

In his address Prof. Kamal Chopra, President AIFMP said, with largest number of young people and lowest dependency ration in the world, India is a vibrant country capable to work even under immense pressure. All India Federation of Master Printers (AIFMP) is inviting the companies for ‘Print in India’ to get their printing and packaging work executed from India and at the same time AIFMP is inviting the companies to manufacture their printing and allied machines in India. The purpose of celebrating India Day is to disseminate the calibre and potential of the Indian Printing industry. We are here as a world entity to celebrate the power of print and to recognize just how far it has come. Print has spanned a millennium. In fact, it is the original information technology and remains the most widely adopted, portable, flexible, economical information technology ever invented. It literally touches every human’s life like none other. Without print, the telephone, computer, television, and yes even the Internet could not have been invented. Think about the sheer presence of print. Virtually every home on the planet has some element of a printed product, from a newspaper to soup can label. Other media can’t lay similar claims. The Internet is not in every home, computers are not in every home and certainly televisions are not in every home but arguably print has a presence in every household in the world, certainly in the developed and developing world.

Our educational institutions rely on print to begin the process of building literate, learned members of society. Our industries rely on print to develop and market products and services. Our governments rely on print to communicate with each and every citizen and to fuel the economy with a secure, reliable currency. Our religious institutions emphasize the printed word in their practices and beliefs. The arts and sciences disseminate their great works and discoveries via this medium with ease and acceptance. This medium is changing now, printing is becoming smarter now and is more visible at the packages and containers. With the value added services looks of printing has changes and it is become live than any other time.

Talking about India I may add that Printing and Print – Packaging industry in India is growing; people are taking keen interest in this key industry now. There are more than 36 printing institutes some of these giving even post-graduate education. Every year more than 3500 new printing engineering graduates joins this industry, while still much more get on the spot training in the print shops. Printing especially Packaging printing is now one of the fastest growing sectors in India. It is said that since 1989 the growth of the Printing coupled with Packaging Printing industry is over 14%.

Today, India is fast becoming one of the major print producer and manufacturer of printed paper products for world markets. The quality standards have improved dramatically and immense production capacities have been created. Some printers have won recognition by winning prizes at international competitions for excellence in printing. The current annual turnover of all the components in the Indian printing industry is estimated to be over USD 500 billion. Indian books, journals and printing jobs etc. are being exported to over 120 countries, both developed and developing. Indian exports of books, printed pamphlets. Newspaper and Periodicals, job printing and printed materials during 2014-15 are estimated to the tune of USD 300 million.

The printing industry is one of the biggest and fastest growing sectors in India and is estimated that more than 250,000 printing presses of small, medium and large size exist in India with a capital investment of over UDS 83 billion. In India about 85% printing presses are family owned. According to an estimate, the printing industry in India provides direct employment to more than 1.5 million people and indirect employment to over 4.5 million. The Indian printing industry may reach 374 billion in Indian rupees by the end of 2018.

He concluded his speech with the wording of former Indian President, Dr. A. P. J. Abdul Kalam “India is a country which has over the years learnt to evolve and maintain a unique unity amongst diversity. It has become an inspirational model and an example to emulate for every region in the world. India supports a social form of economic development and encourages a model of growth with equity. We are conscious of the need for growth to respect the environment and make it sustainable for future generations. With this valuable experience of centuries behind India, we can bring a doctrine of global cooperation built over the foundation of regional collaborations and core competencies of people and society of many nations”. Prof. Chopra added, It is therefore today’s India Day will pave a way for the unity of minds of printers not only of both the countries, but the entire printing community world over.

In his address His Excellency Shri Prakash Gupta, Consul General of India at Shanghai appreciated the gesture of AIFMP to celebrate India Day. He said he conveyed this thought to many Indian associations but AIFMP has taken the lead and I am so happy to be here with the Indian entrepreneurs. He invited international companies to start manufacturing the machines and equipment in India and assured complete support and cooperation at the level of Consulate General of India. His Excellency said with the vision of our Prime Minister, Mr. Narinder Modi now India is fast emerging as the factory of world and there are ample opportunities. He invited Chinese manufacturers to visit India and assured the simplified visa processing for such visitors.

Speaking on the occasion, Ms. Wang Yanbin, Director General of Department of Printing and Distribution, State Administration of Press, Publication, Radio, Film and Television of the People Republic of China (SAPPRFT), and President of the Printing Technology Association of China said, we are thankful to AIFMP for accepting our invitation to celebrate India Day. She said India and China has long traditional relations and I wish to explore more opportunities for joint business in the field of Printing and Packaging sector between two emerging powers of the world. She invited the President of AIFMP to visit again to discover more opportunities and joint collaborations for the promotion of printing and packaging sector in both the countries.