‘Time to focus on performance’

-says Manoj Mehta, newly elected president – AIFMP

All India Federation of Master Printers (AIFMP) creates history for the first time by having its new president Manoj Mehta who also held the same portfolio four years ago. In the recent governing council meeting held in Puducherry, Manoj was elected president unanimously for the year 2010-11. During his first visit to New Delhi after being elected, SK Khurana, editor-Print & Publishing got the opportunity to interact with him in his way to Delhi airport. Excerpts. SK: Congratulations Mr Mehta for becoming president of AIFMP once again that too unanimously! When was your last term?

MM: Thanks, yes, it was four years back – in the year 2006.

SK: Understand there was some move against your becoming president again?

MM: Yes, you are right. Some third party had approached the court without properly referring the clause within the constitution of our federation.

SK: OK, good – now coming to the priorities before you as the new president?

MM: See, we do have few ones lined up already i.e. events in the form of: PAMEX to happen in New Delhi on November 01-05, 2011; the National Awards for Excellence in Printing (NAEP), planned for August 14, 2011 in Bangalore; Print Summit on Printers’ Day (February 25, 2011) in Delhi under the chairmanship of Satish Malhotra; Printers Pariwar Diwas – scheduled for May 01, 2011 – where we would motivate our employees, by giving some kind of Awards, conducting medical camps, etc; and then there is going to be Asian Print Congress, planned during March 2011 in Singapore/Malaysia, for which we are trying to get support from CAPEXIL.

SK: Any suggestions you are going to make to Finance Ministry on import duty reduction?

MM: Yes, we are chalking out certain demands – to which we are planning to hand over to the finance minister prior to the next budget.

SK: Do you have new strategies/agendas as regards to co-operation with IPAMA, the machinery manufacturers’ body?

MM: We on our part are ready to co-operate with IPAMA, and trying not to overlap/coincide IPAMA’s shows. We as printers (Federation) visit all IPAMA’s shows – unfortunately they have not been supporting our shows formally. We don’t want any confrontation and are promoting upcoming Printpack India 2011 show through our Federation’s magazine.

SK: Recently, there were talks about some financial irregularity issues within the Federation – is it true?

MM: There were some queries on accounts which were satisfactorily answered by persons concerned and approved by GC. See, everybody in our organization is much respected person and would in no way like to be part of undesired activities.

SK: Finally, have you any message to convey to your member printers?

MM: Yes, I wish to convey that they create their own niche in respective segment; the productivity/results will come on its own thereby not much of a competition to face. And also keep in mind that,