Prof Kamal Chopra is elected as the President of All India Federation of Master Printers (AIFMP). During his first visit to the Offset Printers’ Association (OPA) office after being named the new president of AIFMP, Prof Chopra was felicitated by the executive body of OPA.
AIFMP is an apex body of 250,000 Indian printers and President is the highest seat in the body. Speaking on the occasion, thanking the gesture of OPA, Prof Chopra said, “India is dominated with small and micro printers who are suffering due to these pandemic conditions and longest ever lockdown. The year 2021 may be the year of survival for all of us. Many changes are in store while starting our work, once again after this long lockdown. The internet and digitisation is hitting normal printing very hard.”
He continues, “Recently the government of India notified not to get printed the calendar and diaries, etc. But in a country where the internet is yet to reach 51 percent population, such a decision can be tying a horse behind the cart. As per the available feedback, not less than 23 percent printing units have been closed or shifted their business during this period. My first and primary goal is to get some relief for the micro and small printers of the country.”
“These pandemic conditions taught us many lessons. I always believe that there are opportunities hidden in any pathetic conditions. COVID-19 trained us to live in healthy and sanitised atmosphere, production with less working hands, come out of comfort zones to plan for future and many more. These days many of us start saying, internet is killing printing. Let’s get past the ‘print is dead’ misconception. The future of print is embracing the exciting new waves of communication and media innovation more than you might expect. Yes, the use of print has declined over the last two decades, but that ended a few years ago. The industry is now positioned to expand, especially with the oversaturation and privacy issues digital platforms experience today,” he added.
The world has officially gone virtual! As industries respond to shifting consumer preferences in the wake of COVID-19, along with a widespread demand for pandemic-specific innovation, the new socially distanced reality is rapidly shaping the way we do business and interact. Due to the lockdown, now the printer will have to learn the new ways of business and interacting with the customer.
As companies merge and streamline in record numbers, there will be fewer manufacturers, merchants and printers. However, the ones that vigorously adopt new technology will thrive and grow. There are a surprising number of new opportunities, but the printers must be willing to make significant changes to take advantage of them. The consensus is that big changes are coming. The top printing companies are embracing innovations, integrating with digital technology, and getting more customised. In this respect, conclusively said, “My perception is printing is not only ink on paper, we will have to adopt new and innovative ideas, such as textile and garment printing, which can lead to the survival of micro and small printers.”
Earlier, welcoming Prof Chopra, Gagandeep Singh, Vice President of OPA said, “It is our honour that once again the President of our apex body is from Ludhiana, we are delighted for this rare achievement, it is perhaps for the first time ever that same person is elected for President of AIFMP from this part of the country. Amarjot Arora mentioned that OPA is the only association to organise Print Olympiad for the first time ever in the world. He added, “We are happy to be blessed with such a visionary and dedicated person. With the election of Prof Chopra, once again for the post of President at AIFMP, the name of OPA is shining like a brightest star in the sky of printers, we are proud of it, really ‘Proud to be a Printer’. Manoj Kalra, Nitin Malik, Amrinder Singh and Mr. Aman Gupta were also present at the felicitation occasion.