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Seeking a level playing field for domestic manufacturers, apex printing, packaging and graphics industry body Indian Printing Packing and Allied Machinery Manufacturers Association (IPAMA) on Wednesday demanded further restrictions on import of old second hand printing and packaging machineries.
Stating that the Union government is facing losses because of import of low quality machines from China, IPAMA has demanded further hike in anti-dumping duty from the existing levy on machineries imported from the neighbouring country.
India currently levies 27.36 per cent anti-dumping duty on second hand printing and packaging machineries imported from China, according to C P Paul, general secretary, IPAMA and the body has sought further 10 per cent increase in import duty on second hand printing and packaging machineries from China.
"The government must further raise the anti-dumping duty by 10 per cent on import of second hand printing and packaging machines from China. Import of second hand machineries, which are more than ten years old, is causing huge loss to the government," said Paul.
Paul said that IPAMA is not against import and added that the government should allow duty-free import of unavailable technology.
"The government must allow duty-free import of unavailable technology into the country for modernisation of the printing and packaging industry," said Paul. He stated that import from China has come down by 40 per cent in the last two years because of high cost of machinery and labour in that country and lack of after-sales service and maintenance.
Meanwhile, IPAMA president K S Khurana informed that country's $16000 million printing and packing industry, primarily dominated by SME and MSME sector, will come under one roof at Print Pack India 2015, which is scheduled to be held from February 11 to February 15 at Noida in Uttar Pradesh.
Urging printing, packaging and graphics industry players from Gujarat to participate in the five-day event, Khurana said that the previous edition of Print Pack 2013 registered around 75,000 footfalls and this year, over 1.50 lakhs visitors are expected.
He added that a number of overseas printing associations and organisations have confirmed their participation at Print Pack India 2015.
