"The biggest hurdle at the moment is the lack of industry status," Ravinder C Reddy, the president of the All India Federation of Master Printers (AIFMP) admits. Despite the country’s increasing push toward compliance and digitisation, the operational and financial heart of most printing businesses remained guarded. Print firms and packaging solution majors are wary, cautious about sharing figures, whether the hesitation stems from competitive concerns, pricing pressures, or apprehension about regulatory consequence.
It was a geography of trust they were navigating, one where a printer’s instinct, honed over generations, valued privacy above policy leverage. Reddy and his AIFMP team has understood this. The industry could not simply be commanded to shed its skin; the evolution had to be incremental. Thus, the AIFMP pivoted, choosing an alternative, pragmatic approach: building a credible representation of the industry's size and impact not on self-reported spreadsheets, but on the government’s own vast, pre-existing data sets. It has been slow, painstaking work, yet the initial policy discussions are already yielding encouraging results. Senior officials themselves acknowledged that industry status for printing was "long overdue". This confluence of sustained, fact-based lobbying and government acknowledgment, Reddy believes, is the right path. In other words, he says, "It has to be a combination requiring consistent effort, credible facts, and, most importantly, unity across the industry".
But policy is only half the struggle. The real, daily transformation has to be engineered on the shop floor.
The perennial twin problems haunting the industry are a shortage of skilled manpower and a crippling gap in knowledge about government benefits. Reddy called the former "one of the most critical challenges facing our industry today". He is yet to see the necessary "collective shift in mindset". As it was, companies engage in a "narrow-minded" cycle of competing for the same limited talent pool, rather than recognising that building a skilled workforce is a shared, expensive responsibility. AIFMP’s strategy, therefore, had to move beyond policy papers and into practical institutional support.
The first step for Reddy is the dedicated MSME Cell, a relatively new initiative fortified by a printing technologist with government experience. The Cell’s mandate was not to execute every piece of paperwork for members but to offer "clear guidance, structured information, and direction" to help smaller, regional units navigate the complexities of MSME schemes and funding structures correctly the first time.
Then there is the physical cornerstone of this future vision: the AIFMP Bhavan Research and Training Centre in Manesar, Gurgaon, now nearing completion, with nearly 80% of construction done. Conceived as a central hub for graphic communication, the Bhavan’s programmes needed to be contemporary and future-oriented. To achieve this, the Education Committee was actively seeking collaboration with equipment manufacturers, consumable suppliers, and technology providers.
Ten questions with C Ravinder Reddy, the president of AIFMP
Noel D'cunha (NMD): What specific methodology and timeline has AIFMP established for collecting comprehensive national data on capital investment, employment, and GST contributions across the printing sector?
C Ravinder Reddy (CRR): Collecting real-time operational and financial data is the "biggest hurdle" because the industry is largely traditional and cautious about sharing information due to competitive, pricing, and regulatory concerns. AIFMP is currently working on alternative approaches to build a credible representation of the industry’s size and impact by relying on the government’s own data sets.
NMD: Beyond the ongoing data collection exercise, what are the next policy-level discussions or lobbying efforts AIFMP plans to undertake to successfully achieve 'Industry Status' for the printing industry?
CRR: Initial engagement with key ministries and government agencies has been very encouraging, with senior officials acknowledging that Industry Status is "long overdue". The future focus is on sustained engagement, presenting facts, strengthening the case, and achieving unity across the industry.
NMD: What measurable targets has AIFMP set for the dedicated MSME Cell in its first year, specifically regarding the percentage of affiliate members it aims to assist in identifying and utilising government benefits?
CRR: The MSME Cell, which has a dedicated printing technologist with government experience, focuses on bridging the gap in awareness and effective utilisation of available schemes among MSME members. While no specific percentage target is mentioned, the immediate goal is to align initiatives with MSME schemes and funding structures, including proposals for knowledge programs.
NMD: How will the MSME Cell provide practical know-how on paperwork to smaller, regional printing units across India, especially those less connected to AIFMP's central resources?
CRR: Members can reach the MSME Cell through their affiliate organisations or the central office. The Cell’s role is to provide clear guidance, structured information, and direction so that members can navigate the process and complete the necessary paperwork correctly the first time. It will not execute the entire paperwork on behalf of individual units.
NMD: What will be the core focus areas and initial course offerings at the AIFMP Bhavan Research & Training Centre, and what steps are being taken to form industry or educational partnerships to ensure the curriculum remains contemporary?
CRR: The Research and Training Centre will serve as a central hub for the industry, with its Governing Council finalising the programme contours soon. AIFMP is actively seeking collaboration with equipment manufacturers, consumable suppliers, technology providers, and industry stakeholders to ensure the curriculum is both current and future-oriented.
NMD: With construction of the AIFMP Bhavan underway, what is the target date for its full operational launch, and what is the long-term plan to ensure its financial and educational sustainability?
CRR: Construction is nearly 80% completed, and the full operational launch is "imminent". The timely flow of funds is important for the final stages. Long-term sustainability will rely on strong industry participation and support, with detailed frameworks to be finalised in the next phase.
NMD: What is AIFMP's comprehensive, scalable strategy to move beyond immediate fixes and institutionalise skill development on a large scale?
CRR: A collective shift in mindset is required, as the industry currently competes for the same limited talent pool. The strategy is based on the recognition that building a skilled workforce is a shared responsibility. Printing companies need to actively participate by defining requirements, opening facilities for training, and contributing resources. AIFMP plans to engage experts and stakeholders to build a scalable and sustainable model.
NMD: How will AIFMP coordinate with manufacturers and technology providers to ensure the training programs, particularly at the new Bhavan, are equipped to teach the latest technologies?
CRR: Technology alignment will be driven through collaboration. Manufacturers and technology providers are seen as having a critical role, and their active participation — through sharing knowledge, resources, and training support — is essential for transferring advanced technologies to the industry via structured programmes.
NMD: How will AIFMP's national projects, such as the MSME Cell and Skill Development initiatives, be tailored to specifically foster and support this premium segment in different regions?
CRR: Currently, there is no regional focus except for a rural focus initiative. However, the aim is to focus on high-value, high-quality printed products for export, and AIFMP believes states like Kerala can contribute significantly due to factors like content, creativity, and resources.
NMD: What specific national-level initiatives is AIFMP planning to collectively convey the industry's strength and highlight print's trustworthiness as the most credible medium against the rise of digital platforms?
CRR: The industry is often misunderstood as environmentally harmful or outdated. Initiatives will focus on a collective effort to reposition the industry by highlighting sustainability initiatives, technological advancements, and its essential role in modern economies and supply chains. This proactive communication is necessary to ensure the industry evolves.