For the first time since its inception in 1992, the Wan-Ifra India 2016 Annual Conference will be held in Kolkata from 21 to 22 September. The conference is the annual meeting point of news publishers in South Asia region and attracts over 350 delegates across South Asia and around the globe. The event also brings to India for the first time, ‘World Printers Forum Conference,’ the world meeting of the newspaper print community. In addition, the event will feature two parallel summits on Newsroom and Cross Media Advertising to discuss trends and practices impacting the media business.
K Balaji, chairman of the Wan-Ifra South Asia Committee, chairman of the World Printers Forum Board and director of Kasturi & Sons, said, “India is the growth centre for media business where both print and digital businesses are thriving. Kolkata holds a pre-eminent position in the development of newspaper publishing and printing in India and I am sure that the city will play the perfect host to Wan-Ifra India 2016 and the World Printers Forum Conference.”
Welcoming the decision to host the event in Kolkata, DD Purkayastha, board member and special advisor to the president, Wan-Ifra and MD and CEO of ABP Group, said, “I am extremely happy that Kolkata is chosen as the venue for Wan-Ifra India 2016 and the World Printers Forum Conference. The publishers of East, Northeast and Bangladesh would be greatly benefited from this conference. Kolkata offers an unparalleled combination of learning atmosphere and the creative heritage of India. I look forward to meeting industry colleagues and discussing some of the hot button issues impacting our industry.”
The conference will include three parallel pre-conference workshops on 20 September on printing, newsroom and advertising topics. The event will also offer limited number of info-table expo stands where suppliers from India and abroad will showcase their production and services. Already many of them have expressed interest to join the event. “The support for Kolkata as the venue for Wan-Ifra India 2016 is overwhelming. We are working to make this a memorable event for the news publishing industry in South Asia region,” said Magdoom Mohamed, managing director of Wan-Ifra South Asia.
