Taking cognizance of the common issues that large format printers serving OOH industry face today with regard to environmental concerns, taxation, and technology adoption, Indian Outdoor Advertising Association (IOAA) has initiated the formation of a dedicated Chapter for Large Format Digital Printers. The inaugural meeting in support of this initiative was conducted in New Delhi on November 16 where the IOAA leadership made a presentation to a gathering of heads of large format digital printing firms, underlining the criticality of putting in place a dedicated vertical chapter that shall under the stewardship of IOAA support the member digital printers in dealing with issues relating to regulatory mandates, GST provisions, among others.

At the meeting, IOAA threw open membership to the Chapter to the digital printer firms represented there. Well know large format digital printing firms responded positively to the IOAA initiative by resolving to take up the membership. IOAA CEO Indrajit Sen explained that the Chapter shall leverage IOAA’s Secretariat and associated resources in carrying forward its different activities.

It was explained that IOAA could help:

• Represent the printing businesses to get maximum benefits from the switch-over to using green, recyclable and bio-degradable material & processes
• Establish new rates for “green” printing
• The industry to source and obtain new materials
• Represent the industry to various government and statutory bodies
• Intervene and clear overdue payments as well as create an S-O-P for this business.

Earlier, Vasant Jante, a part of IOAA and Managing Director of VJ Media Works, in his opening remarks spoke about the win-win proposition that a common platform can offer to the industry constituents.

Directing focus on the green issues, IOAA proposed to explore ways for introducing efficient collection of used PVC flex that is non-recyclable and non-bio-degradable. Such material could be for roofing or making other useful household items that need to be water-proof. A non-profit organisation could be engaged in such an exercise. Moreover, such an initiative would also rid the industry of the tag of being “eco-unfriendly”.

IOAA is also working on sourcing alternative bio-degradable and recyclable material.

More work is necessary to establish available quantities and best costs + customs duties that are not prohibitive, said Sen.

IOAA also suggested that the authorities need to be prevailed upon to give more time for the industry to make the switch to green materials.