Paperex 2022 begins

Held every two years, Paperex is the only comprehensive platform for paper manufacturers, traders and buyers. Owing to the Covid-related restrictions, the show was postponed from its original date. 

As the show is supported by major trade associations of paper and allied industries, including IPPTA, IPMA, INMA, IARPMA, FPTA, IRPTA, WPF and more, it holds special interest for the entire printing and packaging industry. 

More than 600 exhibitors from more than 18 countries are present at the show. This includes, Adler Paper; Ajit Industries; Ambani Paper; Bahl Paper Mills; Bindals Papers Mills; Central Pulp & Paper Research Institute; Coromandel Paper Products; ITC-PSPD; JK Paper; Kalpataru Papers; Michelman; Vishal Paper Group of Companies; Voith Paper Technology; Yash Pakka; among others. 

The show is also hosting a number of seminars. These include a three-day open seminar on Paper — corrugation, printing and packaging; a conference on Paper industry: post-pandemic growth and restructuring, organised by IARPMA and a panel discussion by the Indian Recovered Paper Traders Association (IRPTA).

During the inaugural session on 10 May, Pramod Agarwal, president, Indian Agro & Recycled Paper Mills Association (IARPMA) welcomed the visitors. 

Agarwal said during Covid-19, while the demand for writing and printing paper went down, the paper packaging industry fared well, as the pharma sector, FMCG and the growth in eCommerce played a major role in driving growth in the paper sector. “As the economic activity opens up in the post-pandemic era, the growth momentum is likely to get further acceleration,” he said.

Gaurav Sood, director, Hyve India, spoke on the Future of Paperex, and Kasi Viswanathan, chairman, Paperex Technical Committee, spoke about the Paperex conference.

Dr AS Mehta, president, IPMA, spoke on the Indian paper industry. According to the industry body, paper consumption in India is projected to grow by 6-7% per annum in the next five years, so as to reach 30 million tonnes by FY27, making it the fastest growing paper market in the world.

“The paper Industry in the country has undergone a transformation of sorts in the last few years. The industry has gone up the sustainability curve and has become far more technologically advanced. In the last five to seven years, an amount of over Rs 25,000-crore has been invested in new efficient capacities and induction of clean and green technologies,” Mehta said.

The estimated turnover of the industry is Rs 70,000-crore with domestic market size of Rs 80,000-crore.

Abhik Tandon, associate partner, McKinsey & Company, delivered the keynote address cum SV Memorial lecture.