Kamal Chopra outlines roadmap for self-reliant print
Speaking to a packed audience comprising entrepreneurs, policymakers, and engineers, Prof Kamal Chopra outlined a vision of an industry growing at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 11%, driven by resilience and a move toward self-reliance.
10 Dec 2025 | 290 Views | By PrintWeek India
The Indian printing and packaging industry is projected to surge to a valuation of USD 143-billion by 2029. The forecast was the centrepiece of a keynote address delivered by Prof Kamal Mohan Chopra, the former chairman of the World Print and Communication Forum, during the SkillTech Industrial Expo in Haryana.
In a session titled The Present Status of the Indian Printing and Packaging Industry, Prof Chopra outlined how the sector has quietly solidified its position as the fifth-largest pillar of the Indian economy. He noted that the packaging market alone has expanded to USD 84-billion in 2024, driven by robust growth in the FMCG sector and a significant spike in urban consumption patterns.
Prof Chopra described the current era as a "renaissance" for the industry, specifically highlighting the resurgence of paper packaging. Fuelled by global sustainability mandates and the "green wave" crashing against single-use plastics, paper packaging was valued at INR 1.67-lakh crore as of August this year. It is now expected to grow at a staggering rate of 19.48%, reaching INR 4.07-lakh crore by 2030.
Elaborating on the "dual engines" of growth, digital disruption and ecological innovation, Prof Chopra provided a granular look at specific verticals. Commercial printing, currently pegged at USD 36.5-billion, is targeting USD 46.7-billion by 2034 with a steady growth rate of 2.8%, largely bolstered by the eCommerce sector’s insatiable appetite for custom labels and brochures. Meanwhile, offset packaging remains robust; valued at USD 8.94-billion this year, it is projected to balloon to USD 13.01-billion by 2032. This expansion is being reshaped by technical advancements, including the adoption of mid-web presses and RFID technology, which are revolutionising supply chains.
However, the address was not without words of caution. Prof Chopra highlighted specific headwinds, noting that India's per capita paper consumption lingers at a modest 15 kg, a stark fraction of the global average of 57 kg. He identified this gap not just as a statistic, but as a signal of untapped potential amidst fibre shortages and import pressures. To bridge this divide, he urged the industry to focus on backward integration and the development of mills driven by artificial intelligence. On the policy front, he lauded the government’s PLI schemes, which have already sparked USD 19-billion in investments and are on track to create 1.15 million jobs by March 2025, indirectly benefitting label converters and pharma packagers.
The seminar concluded with interactive exchanges where local entrepreneurs discussed automation trends, ranging from flexible systems in food and beverage to barrier-coated paperboards designed to combat counterfeiting. SkillTech convener Bobby Dhingra remarked that the blueprint provided by the keynote equips the region to lead in consumer packaging, a segment forecasted to leap from USD 59.4-billion in 2025 to USD 103.4-billion by 2035. Summarising the sentiment of the event, Prof Chopra stated that from the granaries of Karnal to global shelves, the fraternity is now printing the story of a sustainable, scalable, and sovereign India.