Print sales to climb by 2.8 per cent
Tchamkertenian (pictured right) predicted the publishing sector will increase sales by 6.2 per cent and the paper and paper products sector by 9.1 per cent during the year ahead. The printing industry has already jumped ahead of the local economy in terms of economic growth, expanding at a rate of 2.3 per cent during 2004.
Tchamkertenian also covered other key economic indicators like capital expenditure, profits and costs, imports and exports as well as capacity utilisation rates. He highlighted a number of challenges for the industry in 2005, including skilled labour shortages, free trade agreements, paper supply issues and capital expenditure concerns.
High profile commentator and former BT chief economist Dr Chris Caton was also on hand to offer his informed perspective to JPE members, providing an outlook on local markets and the global economy for the coming year.
Caton made a number of predictions including a slowing of economic growth during 2005, further slight rises in interest rates, a continued flattening of the property market as well as a strong performance for the Australian economy despite mixed signals.
The industry review night was held at North Ryde in Sydney on Tuesday, with the intention of providing JPE members with an idea of what direction both the printing industry and local economy is heading in.
(left to right: JPE vice president Franca Balsamo; Printing Industries manager for industry and commercial policy Hagop Tchamkertenian; JPE treasurer David Nederlof; economist Chris Caton, JPE president, Kelly Bourke)
Tchamkertenian (pictured right) predicted the publishing sector will increase sales by 6.2 per cent and the paper and paper products sector by 9.1 per cent during the year ahead. The printing industry has already jumped ahead of the local economy in terms of economic growth, expanding at a rate of 2.3 per cent during 2004. 