The four-day event, which concludes on 4 November 2017, will see more than 600 exhibitors and trade visitors from more than 55 countries. This year, the exhibition will have separate global paper technology supplier pavilion; paper manufacturers networking pavilion; paper traders business networking lounge; special printing and packaging paper pavilion; handmade paper pavilion alongside various new launches and special offers by exhibitors.

The first day of the show on 1 November will also see the launch of Paper Day. The ceremony has been scheduled for 4.30 pm at Hall No 7, Pragati Maidan. The chief guest for the Paper Day will be Dr Harsha Vardhan, union minister of science and technology, earth sciences, environment, forest and climate change. The guests of honours will be Vijay Goel, union minister of state for parliamentary affairs, statistics, and programme implementation, and Harsh Pati Singhania, vice-chairman and managing director, JK Paper.

Meanwhile, the 13th International Technical Conference during Paperex 2017 will focus on ‘Pulp and Paper Industry: Strategies for Sustainable Growth. The three-day conference starting 1 November will see speakers talk about topics such as,

Indian paper industry: trends and challenges for sustainable growth; developments in fibreline and tissue and papermaking; breakthrough technologies; innovative approaches in energy-saving and environmental protection and simulation tools.

The Indian paper industry is now a vast industry comprising more than 750 pulp and paper mills, providing employment to more than 2 million people directly and indirectly. The estimated turnover of the industry is around USD 8 billion. Due to growth in literacy, change in lifestyle and increasing consciousness for personal hygiene, per capita consumption of paper and tissue in India is increasing day by day. The growth in GDP of India has led to the increase in manufacturing activities, increasing the demand for paper products especial the paper boards for carrying out wide range of activities ranging from packaging to storage, transportation and lot more. The per capita paper consumption in India at a little over 13 kg, is way behind the global average of 57 kg. Indian paper industry is expected to reach up to USD 12 billion by 2017. Projected demand of paper is 20 million tonnes by 2020.