According to the organisers, the main objective of 4th Eastern Print Pack 2016 is to meet the need in the local market for latest printing and packaging machinery, including pre- and post-press machines. The show also hopes to provide common platform to create awareness among all sectors of the industry, big to small, on the latest technologies, trends, equipment, consumables, etc and enable these industries to modernise their operations, optimise production and increase profitability.

For the East and Northeast of India, Kolkata remains the main business, commercial and financial hub. This makes the show quite significant for the converters from the regions and for manufacturers and service providers who wants to make inroads into this region. The printing and packaging market in the region has seen a tremendous growth in the last 10 years. This growth covers the total spectrum, such as commercial and promotional printing, packaging, printed advertising, newspapers, periodicals, stationery and others. The projected growth automatically means future investments in capital goods. Printers in Eastern India, including the neighbouring countries like Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan and many South-East Asian countries, are looking forward to visualise and adopt the newer technologies and upgrade their production flow to achieve the global standard.

The Northeast is especially a big hub on account of the economical viability. Unilever and Emami group have come up with two very large production units here. Meanwhile, the Bhutan government has taken up an extensive printing project for development in Phuntsholing near Siliguri.

The FMCG market, including beverages industry, is rife with potential. This is a virgin market and modernisation is the key to keep pace with the domestic competitors of Western and Northern India, plus import substitution in neighbouring countries like Bangladesh and Nepal. Printers around Kolkata are also looking at modernisation and exposure, and the exhibition will help them finalise their up-gradation programmes.

The West Bengal Master Printers’ Association, one of the founder members of the AIFMP, has been a concerned, functional entity actively working with the vision of reshaping and developing the printing and packaging industry in the region. The target for any industry is growth and development in their infrastructure, skill and knowledge. The West Bengal Master Printers’ Association has been committed to achieve this goal and upgrade the industry.