Printing and Packaging industry outlines path for growth of sector

The nine-member team of professionals that constitute the Printing and Packaging Industry Council (PPIC) have outlined a clear and committed path for the growth of the sector in T&T says its chairman Clayton Najab.

Certified courses are to be offered at the University of T&T John Donaldson Technical Institute to bolster the necessary skill set, now in short supply in this area. The council has also expressed a desire to expand a programme in plastic extrusion now being conducted at select secondary schools across this country.

Council officials are reporting to faculties that troubled teens exposed to this programme were scoring exceptionally high in the execution of their tasks and demonstrating a newfound level of discipline. That’s not where it ends, however, as workshops focusing on packaging ideas, maintenance and training were being held to better certify existing practitioners.

Najab said the sector was already one of seven priority industries identified for business development, expansion and job creation possibilities by Government and this was ideal as printing and packing already had the capability and competitive advantage on which to build.

He cited a six-year-old report prepared by professionals in the sector and submitted to the Patrick Manning-led government. Najab said the proposal which outlined a five-year strategic action plan was accepted by the then government. It contained recommendations in three main areas: alliances for co-operation, competitiveness programmes, market research and product development.

“In order to achieve these objectives, a key recommendation was made which was to establish a Printing and Packaging Industry Council for enhancing the sector’s competitiveness.

The council comprised nine members—chosen from a variety of sectors—a chairman, vice-chairman and seven members from the printing, packaging and plastics industries, the Business Development Company (BDC) and the Ministry of Trade and Industry. The PPIC works closely with the BDC which is the implementation agency of the strategic plan and has industry specialist and a project co-ordinator as members of the council,” he said.

Using the information now available, Najab said the PPIC hoped to better sensitise the local industry of the need to gear itself up for the new and emerging challenges, trends and technologies as digital print comes into focus.