IPAMA was founded in the year 1991 and stands for Indian Printing, Packaging and Allied Machinery Manufacturers' Association. It is an independent organization serving the needs of the printing, packaging and allied industries in a rapidly changing marketplace.

As a registered apex body under the Societies Registration Act, IPAMA is dedicated to disseminating information on the state of technology, market perspectives and various developments taking place around the world and relevant to the Indian printing packaging and allied industries through its quarterly journal "IPAMA BULLETIN" – besides holding the international standard exhibition “Printpack India” in association with India Trade Promotion Organization (ITPO).

Where do you see the Indian Print industry in 2011?

The Indian Printing Industry certainly has an upward trend during the current year. It is very much evident from the recently concluded tenth PRINTPACK INDIA 2011. Over 50,000 business visitors, 411 active participants doing almost 25 % more business as compared to our 9th PRINTPACK, shows the enthusiasm of the Industry. The result of the post-show-survey corroborated the exhibitors view that almost every participant had excellent orders and quite a lot of potential enquiries. This trend goes to prove the upswing and promising future of the printing/ packaging industry in India.

Does India now feel that thei r large population is an advantage (for the printing industry in particular) ?

Undoubtedly the population with a steeply growing literacy rate has great advantages for the printing industry. The horizons of printing activities are expanding very fast with the fast changes in technology and highly qualitative products. Today, machines produced in India are being exported to various parts of the globe.

We heard about the Indian government relaxing the FDI (Foreign Direct Investment) regulations recently - please elaborate.

FDI - The Government's recently announced policy will no doubt have very positive impact on the Indian Printing and Packaging Industry. We expect to receive news of Joint ventures in the near future.

Has there been any sops for Printing industry in the most recent budget according to you?

There are no separate sops for the Industry, on the contrary, an Excise Duty has been levied on the finished products e.g. envelopes and some other printed finished products which were earlier not covered by the same.

What is the objective of IPAMA as far as international co-operation is concerned ?

IPAMA can play a very vital international role. Being a founding member of Global Print and PAMA : The Apex Body of Printing Equipment Manufacturers in India President Mr.N.S.Manku speaks to Print China 2011 Daily Asia Print, IPAMA is looking forward for greater opportunities for Indian manufacturers to have exciting technical collaborations with well-known overseas players besides managing technical education / institutional activities for its members.

What about IPAMA’s activities within India?

Now when IPAMA has its own four storied head-quarters in NOIDA, it is engaged in planning and carrying out a lot of activities for its members in the printing industry, comprising periodical exhibitions of smaller machines by its members, product promotion activities, a business center for members, on-site promotional conferences and of course educational activities for R & D/ Value Engineering for production of qualitative machines of international standards.

Has there been some effect of the global recession in your country too? Do you find it is turning for good now?

Yes, at the very initial stages, the global recession some impact on our industry but the captive market within the country made the industry come out of it very fast. While this recession still has its affect in several parts of the globe, Indian Industry has come a long way and very strongly too. Basically in India, the recession’s fever was aggravated due to media hype. Most of the investors did not go ahead just out of the fear created by media, even when they were very well capable of doing so.

The best part of whole scenario is that the Indian industry has it’s own strength. The government has not played the expected role. The support to the industry is very negligible.IPAMA has taken up this issue with the Ministry of Industry and have tried to impress upon them that if we are given even 50 % infrastructural and other relevant facilities, like China has given to its industry, we can do wonders.