Sri Lanka’s printing industry moves into new era of globalisation
Sri Lanka’s printing industry has been moving into a new era with many local printers acquiring combined offset/digital facilities to go global.
The industry is now opening its doors to transform the country as a global printing hub that would create more business avenues and much needed foreign revenue, a frontline office bearer of the Sri Lanka Association of Printers (SLAP) disclosed.
Print marketing and novel advertising methods are becoming popular as a preferred, approach to interaction with customers, Assistant Secretary of SLAP and Managing Director Lak Foil (Pvt ) Ltd, Delan Silva said.
Local printers will be made aware of the opportunities in the printing industry and they will be empowered to harness huge potential in printing by inculcating them with out-of-the-box thinking, he said adding that SLAP will assist them in enhancing their business.
Sri Lanka’s printing primarily caters to export markets such as Singapore, India, UAE, UK, Germany, Venezuela and the Maldives.
It provides a wide range of products to the export market ranging from commercial printing to quality packaging materials such as tea cartons, garment tags, and labels which provide a supporting service to major export sectors.
Sri Lanka is yet to tap its printing market share fully and the association will assist printers to change their attitudes towards the mission of going global, he pointed out.
The country’s printing industry has an opportunity to cater to especially the Asian region due to its strategic location, he added.
With this main aim, SLAP will hold its biennial Print Conference on March 15 at Waters Edge, Battaramulla from 8.30 am to 5 pm.
The Print 2008 conference will gather all stakeholders in and from the printing industry to a single platform, for far reaching discussion, debate and sharing knowledge on the theme ‘Going Global”.
The “Global Challenge for Sustainability of Packaging”, “Competition to the Print Industry”, the “Business of Printing Human Potential Management for Sustainable Business Enterprise” and “Commitment for Compliance to Environment” would be key areas of discussion of the panel of speakers at the conference.
Elaborating on the objectives of “Sri Lanka Print 2018” exhibition to be held on March 16-18, Mr. Silva noted that it will showcase the availability of new technology, and pricing structures while providing prospects for exhibitors, customers and visitors.
One of the main focus of this year’s exhibition will be the introduction of printing as a career path for young school leavers and guide them to take advantage of the many opportunities offered and available in this field, he revealed.
Every possible step will be taken to make this a meeting place for suppliers to the printing industry and the printers and expose them to new products, processes and modern efficient technologies as well as to establish contacts and get to know each other, he said.