Good year for printers
The recent grand celebration of the 60th anniversary of His Majesty the King's accession to the throne has put the country's printing industry in a good position to achieve growth of between 10 per cent and 12 per cent this year.
Thai Printing Association president Kriengkrai Thiennukul said yesterday the value of the country's printing and paper business is estimated to have reached between Bt100 billion and Bt200 billion per year. The industry has been very active, thanks to His Majesty's celebration, and is expecting another boost with the general election expected later in the year. "The industry is expecting aggressive growth, in contrast with the [general] economic slowdown," he said. Certain activities during His Majesty's celebration were of particular benefit to the local printing industry. These included the Royal Barge Procession, the "greeting the King" ceremony at Ananda Samakhom Throne Hall, and the official banquet. Demand for pictures of the Royal Family, as well as the other royal guests, remains very high as people want to keep the historic pictures as a way of paying respect to their beloved monarch, Kriengkrai said. "Printing houses cannot meet the demand because of overwhelming orders, not only for pictures but also for photo books, royal activities collection books and stickers," he said. High demand is expected to continue until early next year. In addition, corporations, department stores and businesses in Thailand have changed their marketing plans from giving premium gifts to customers to giving calendars with different photographs of the King taken during the celebration and also royal activities collection books. "This one event has turned [the fortunes of] the industry from sluggishness due to the economic slowdown and political chaos to [a big] capacity increase," Kriengkrai said. During a general election it is normally expected that about Bt3 billion will flow in the printing business. However, the election later this year is expected to generate only about Bt1 billion. As well as the improved local business, Kriengkrai said printing industry exports were expected to achieve Bt10 billion this year.
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