At All in Print China held in Shanghai from 18 to 22 October, 2016, the All India Federation of Master Printers (AIFMP) celebrated India Day on the morning of 20 October. The ceremony was attended by more than 100 Indian printers with His Excellency Shri Prakash Gupta, Consulate General of India at Shanghai as the Chief Guest. Welcoming the delegates, Axel Bartkus, Messe Dusseldorf, Germany said, “I am delighted to see that the Indian printing and packaging industry is growing at a rapid pace, and with 250,000 printing companies India is the leading nation in this trade.”
His Excellency Shri Prakash Gupta, Consulate General of India at Shanghai, appreciated the gesture of AIFMP to celebrate India Day. He invited international companies to start manufacturing machines and equipment in India, and assured complete support and cooperation at the level of Consulate General of India. He said, “With the vision of our Prime Minister Narendra Modi, India is fast emerging as the factory of the world and there are ample opportunities here.” He invited Chinese manufacturers to visit India and also assured simplified visa processing for them.
Anand Limaye, honorary general secretary of AIFMP, said that the huge printing and packaging industry in India has generated a range of opportunities for employment in a variety of fields. “The INR 500 billion industry in India provides employment to 400,000 people directly and 1,500 thousand people indirectly. In its quest to provide a platform that voices the concerns of the Indian printing industry, AIFMP supports, participates and organizes 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.
Kamal Chopra, president of AIFMP said, “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 caliber 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.” He presented the facts and figures of the Indian print industry, claiming it to reach INR 374 billion by the end of 2018.
He concluded his speech with the words of former Indian president, Dr. APJ 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.”
