Thai Gasma sees Thai hub for CLMV

Rising sales of printing machines in the CLMV area, along with technologies and new printing innovation launched recently in Germany by global manufacturers, have significantly improved the overall printing industry, the association said.
Thai GASMA will conduct roadshows in neighbouring countries in a bid to persuade printing houses to buy new printing technologies that will be showcased at the “Gasma Print 2016” trade show, due to be held in Thailand from September 14-17.
President Chaiwat Harnsomwong said the association was announcing Thailand as the printing-technology hub for CLMV because sales of printing machines and technologies in the Kingdom had risen significantly, while Thai investors had been active in forming joint printing houses with local businessmen in CLMV markets.
This means businesses in these neighbouring markets are now purchasing printing machines and materials such as paper and ink from Thailand, he said.
While the situation is favourable for Thailand to be the regional printing-technology hub, the country is also an aviation hub, so air travel in and out |of CLMV countries for business and trade is very convenient and cheap, he said.
Moreover, land transportation through border checkpoints is smooth and convenient, as well, with basic infrastructures such as new roads to facilitate border trade also resulting in trucks being able to deliver Thai products to the capitals and other major industrial cities in neighbouring markets.
 The political situation in the four CLMV countries has also become more stable, he added.
A major factor driving sales of printing machines and technologies is the launch of new innovations by many manufacturers at the “Drupa 2016” trade fair, which was held in Germany early this month.
These innovations are expected to help lower printing costs, enhance printing efficiency and increase profits, Chaiwat said, adding that they could help revive the overall printing industry, which had been saturated for years.
Kosol Chotikarn, Thai GASMA vice president and chairman of the organising committee for “Gasma Print 2016”, said the launch of new printing innovations by major manufacturers worldwide at the German trade fair was perfectly timed, as many of them would be showcased in September at the Thai event, to be held at Bitec in Bang Na.
“From our experience of trade negotiations in neighbouring countries, we have found that the purchase of printing machines and technologies for printing houses in those countries must be made through distributors in Thailand. Leading international brands have their sales offices or distributors in Thailand.