Info Minister Dr Timilsina Underlines Security Printing’s Market Expansion

Minister for Information and Communications, Dr Bikram Timilsina, has underscored the need for expanding external markets of security printing by making Nepal self-reliant in this sector. At a programme organized to exchange views and experience among related experts at the Ministry today, Minister Dr Timilsina said strengthening of the Security Printing Centre was imperative so that all necessary security printings could be made available within country.

The Minister reminded that the government had already decided to list the Security Printing Centre as a public entity that could compete with the private sector and involve in commercial transactions. Considering this very decision, the programme dwelt on possibility of operating the Centre commercially and expanding services along with its external marketing.

The Minister said Nepal should gradually become self-reliant with the development of necessary technology, skilled manpower and infrastructures for the security printing. Development and adoption of technology, quality and security systems along with skilled workforces of international standards are instrumental in promoting security printing as the industry.

In the programme, the security printing experts presented their experience on the status of Nepal’s security printing in the international market, technology in use, security standards and its potential to secure reaches in the international market.

Security printing and digital authentication specialist Tadej J Turk shared his experience on security printing technology and evolving international practices. Another foreign expert Camilla Schmid informed the participants on security design, curb of counterfeit document and security measures to be adopted in design.

An expert on certification and international partnerships, Laszlo Varga, made a presentation on certification, international collaboration and market expansion. Recent developments in paper, cards and digital technology used in security printing also surfaced in the meeting.

The experts viewed modern technology and multi-layer security systems were essential to reduce the damages caused to the state and citizens due to counterfeit documents.

Meeting international security standards in security printing, conducting sample testing, and certifying and complying with the required standards, possibility of international partnerships, joint ventures, and technology transfer for strengthening the Security Printing Centre also drew attention in the programme.

Issues presented by the experts included expansion of the business through international competitive bidding and developing security printing services and technology through G2G collaboration. With the government’s decision to commercially advance the Security Printing Centre, discussion and engagement for it has been amplified by the Ministry of late.

High level government officials including Ministry secretary Rajendra Kumar Paudel, director general at Printing Department, Chhabindra Parajuli, and executive director at the Security Printing Centre, Devraj Dhungana attended the programme. (RSS)