The visit is being organised under the on-going Soft Intervention of Printing and Packaging Cluster project at Ludhiana, and is supported by the ministry of MSME under CDP project. The project is organised by the DIC, Ludhiana where Udyog Sahayak, Department of Industries (Government of Punjab) is the implementing agency and Offset Printers’ Association is the collaborators for this project.

Giving details of the project Mahesh Khanna, general manager, District Industries Centre, Ludhiana said, “The ministry of MSME has adopted cluster development approach as a key strategy for enhancing the productivity and competitiveness as well as capacity building of Micro and Small Enterprises (MSEs) and their collectives in the country. A cluster is a group of enterprises located within an identifiable and as far as practicable, contiguous area and producing similar products or services. Visit of cluster actors of printing and packaging cluster at Ludhiana to the International Exhibition at Bangkok is being arranged to give them wide exposure and encouragements to improve system of working, technology and qualitative approach.”

Giving details about the exhibition, Parveen Aggarwal, president, OPA said, “It is the only event in Southeast Asia that takes a closer look at technologies driving printing and packaging innovations. With the rapid pace of technological change and advancement, printers simply have to keep themselves updated on the trends and demands of printing and packaging industries, and for those with a stake in the printing and packaging industries there is no better platform than visiting exhibitions.”  

He also said Thailand has a long history in the printing industry. “Its roots can be traced back to the reign of King Rama IV, whose vital patronage brought about the nation’s determination to establish this industry. Thailand’s pioneering achievements have led it to become one of the most active printing centres in Southeast Asia,” he added.

“Printing and Packaging Cluster at Ludhiana was approved in the year 2010. The proposal and DSR of the cluster was submitted on 25 July 2011. Thereafter, the DSR submitted by OPA was approved and proposal for Soft Intervention in the cluster at a total cost of Rs 23.85 lakh was sanctioned. The Soft Intervention was started after receiving the first instalment of Rs 12.32 lakh in the month of April 2013. Soft Interventions are conducted to provide technical assistance, capacity building, exposure visits, and market development, trust building etc. for the cluster units. Visit of Pack Print International at a cost of Rs 10 lakh is part of is part of this initiative where 50% of the amount (Rs 5 lakh) is to be contributed by OPA and remaining 50% will be contributed by the ministry of MSME,” said Kamal Chopra, general secretary, OPA.