The Indian Printing Packaging & Allied Machinery Manufacturers’ Association (IPAMA), which is organizing PRINTPACK 2019, will be looking to organize multiple knowledge-sharing programs during the expo which will take place from 1 to 6 February 2019 at Noida Expo Centre in Greater Noida.
“We have been having knowledge-sharing programs at PRINTPACK but that would be on a day or two. But during PRINTPACK 2019 we are looking to organize such knowledge-sharing events on all the days. These programs will deal with a range of topics relevant to the printing and packaging industry. Initiatives such as these can be very useful for visitors,” Dayaker Reddy, president IPAMA, told Indian Printer and Publisher during PrintFair 2018 which was held in Hyderabad from 9 to 12 March.
Response from the industry for PRINTAPCK 2019 has been tremendous so far and close to 250 exhibitors have confirmed their participation for the expo, Reddy informed. IPAMA has been focusing on bringing exhibitors from a variety of segments, such as digital and offset printing, postpress, flexible packaging, labels, corrugation, screen printing and textile printing, among others.
“We are targeting to bring 600 exhibitors and are confident we will get at least 550 for PRINTPACK 2019. In terms of visitors also we expect the numbers to be higher than last time. In fact, we are working to get 300 to 400 biggest printers of the country to the expo,” Reddy shared.
So that PRINTPACK 2019 has a wide variety of exhibitions and visitors, IPAMA has already signed MoUs with major Indian industry associations such as the Association of Label Printers & Suppliers (ALPS); the Indian Paper Corrugated & Packaging Machinery Manufacturers’ Association (ICPMA); and the Screen Printers’ Association of India (SPAI).
Focusing on SAARC region
Although most of the exhibitors and visitors at PRINTPACK 2019 would be from India, IPAMA is trying to ensure that SAARC countries such as Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bhutan and even Pakistan are a part of the event. These countries have a potential to be an important market for Indian manufacturers. IPAMA has already signed an MoU with Bangladesh Mudran Shilpa Samity (Printing Industries Association of Bangladesh). Reddy stated that a similar MoU with a Sri Lankan association could be signed during Collate 2018.
“There will be 28 exhibitors and 49 delegates from India in Mudran Shilpa Samity for Collate 2018, which will take place from 16 to 18 March in Colombo. We are hopeful that we can sign an agreement there,” Reddy said. Reddy expects about 500 visitors from Nepal and a similar number from both Sri Lanka and Bangladesh at PRINTAPCK 2019.
Asked if IPAMA had tried to work with the Pakistani print industry for PRINTPACK 2019, given the sensitive natural of relationship between the two countries, Reddy said that an attempt was made to send a delegation but due to problems in getting travel documents, the visit could not materialize.
“IPAMA had tried to visit Pakistan to promote PRINTPACK 2019 but our visas did not come through, so our delegation could not travel. But we are hopeful and would be meeting printers from Pakistan during Collate 2018 to discuss what we can do,” Reddy said.
