Printers converge for 19th FAPGA forum in Philippines
The 19th edition of the Forum of Asia Pacific Graphic Arts (FAPGA) was held at the Sofitel Philippine Plaza in Manila from 9-11 October 2019. Delegates from seven member countries of FAPGA were present at the forum along with members of the Philippine Printing Technical foundation (PPTF).
16 Oct 2019 | By Aultrin Vijay
Speaking on the occasion, FAPGA president Peter Lane discussed ways to enhance FAPGA and Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) cooperation during the present day challenges in the print industry.
Lane, who heads Lane Print Group in South Australia, noted how tough it is to operate a global printing business. He said, “We need perseverance and constant consideration of how to survive. Cooperation and collaboration is essential.”
Recalling how the 2008 global financial crisis had a major impact on business and consumer demand for printing, Lane said, “We may not have a similar global financial crisis, however, we do have financial uncertainty with the trade war between China and America, Brexit, and weather-related activities that directly or indirectly influence trade and business confidence.”
Meanwhile, FAPGA first vice president Atty. Dominador Buhain, president of host association PPTF, drew attention to the economic potential of Asia.
Quoting a news report, Buhain said, “Asia now accounts for around one-third of the global trade in goods, up from about a quarter 10 years ago.” Citing a study by global consulting firm McKinsey & Company, he said, “If ASEAN were considered a single economy, it would be the seventh largest with a combined gross domestic product of USD 2.7 trillion as of 2015.”
PPTF president emeritus Benito Brizuela asserted, “The printing industry will remain resilient and steadfast, despite the advent of the so-called ‘fourth industrial revolution’, manifested in digitisation, nano technology, biotechnology, Internet of Things, and artificial intelligence.
However, Brizuela cautioned against complacency citing the ever changing preferences and habits of millennials. He said the challenge for the printing industry is to remain significant in the “preferred journey towards learning and acquiring knowledge by the young generation.”
Delegates also attended the opening ceremonies of the PACKPRINTPLAS exhibition at SMX Convention Center. This year’s FAPGA delegates were from Australia, Cambodia, India, Indonesia, Japan, Nepal and the Philippines.
FAPGA elects new president
The 19th FAPGA forum elected Philippines’ Atty. Dominador D Buhain as its new president, succeeding Australia’s Peter Lane, who has been conferred the title of president emeritus. The election was held during the FAPGA General Assembly on 10 October at the SMX Convention Center in Manila.
Buhain, who is the chairman and president of Rex Group of Companies, is the president of the Philippine Printing Technical Foundation. Lane is the managing director of Lane Print Group.
(l-r) Manoj Mehta, Dominador Buhain and Suresh Rajendran
Other officers elected as well as committee chair appointments were: First vice president Andrew Macaulay, CEO of the Print & Visual Communication Association of Australia, International Standardization Committee; second vice president Manoj Mehta of the All India Federation of Master Printers; third vice president Kuyang Chhuyan Dorge Lama of the Federation of Nepal Printers Association; fourth vice president Iichiro Sugimura of the Japan Federation of Printing Industries, International Relationship Committee; fifth vice president Mughira A Nurhani of PPGI Indonesia, Training and Development Committee; secretary general Suresh Rajendran, president of ST Reddar & Sons; and Treasurer Sok Rithy, chairman of the Publishing & Distribution Center of Cambodia. Buhain will also head the Legal and Ethical Standards Committee.
The General Assembly also set aside the election system of choosing its president, adopting the rotation basis instead, to allow other members of the General Assembly to lead the organisation.
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