The Indian print, publishing, and packaging sectors are undergoing a massive transformation, projected to reach over USD 130-billion by 2028. Kevin Costello, chief executive officer of Haymarket Media Group, addressed the gathering in Mumbai, “I believe that the industry is at a really interesting juncture. Undergoing a profound structural reset as we move away from a high-volume manufacturing base towards a sophisticated value-added ecosystem.”
Costello noted that with the market projected to grow from roughly USD 72-billion to more than USD 130-billion by 2028, the expansion represents far more than just scaling up production capabilities. He said, “This is a sector defined by ambition.”
He added, “But as I have learned from the work of our team here, this growth is not merely about capacity. It is a shift from a logistical necessity to becoming an essential brand instrument.”
UK-headquartered Haymarket Media’s presence in India spans over 25 years, a tenure Costello emphasised as a foundational, long-term relationship rather than a standard commercial expansion. He highlighted, “India has never been just another overseas market for us,” noting Haymarket’s identity as a private, family-owned business. “We have the privilege of being able to take a long-term view. The strongest partnerships are measured not in quarters but in decades,” he continued.
PrintWeek’s Leaders and Legends serves as a celebration of the figures anchoring physical products in an increasingly online market ecosystem. Citing an industry adage from PrintWeek’s flagship Power 100 index, Costello remarked that “the pack is the last advertisement before purchase and the first experience after purchase.”
The event agenda highlights technical and demographic shifts in the workforce, with honours for the Power 100, Forty under 40, Women to Watch, and a cohort of 12 next-generation young leaders.
Looking toward the operational challenges of the next decade, Costello pointed to a highly automated, climate-conscious future. He noted that the industry’s evolution is being evidenced by “the shift towards recyclable materials, the adoption of robotics in production or the digital integration of packaging and digital content.”
Costello concluded, “The leaders in this room gathered today played a vital role in driving the seismic transformation of the print and packaging industry.” He added, “I believe the next decade promises new challenges and new opportunities. And looking around this room, I have every confidence that the leaders, you, the innovators and entrepreneurs gathered here will help shape that future.”