A delegation of printers from earthquake-ravaged Nepal has been welcomed for the first time to the Forum of Asia Pacific Graphic Arts (FAPGA) - this year taking place over two days at PacPrint 2017 in Melbourne.
Also attending for the first time were delegates from the New Zealand printing association, PrintNZ.
FAPGA president and PIAA board member Peter Lane said that when the forum last met seven months ago in China, the Nepal Printers Association (FNPA) was unable to attend because of the widespread destruction.
"Nepal was recovering from a serious earthquake that caused massive devastation and loss of life to their country, which was still recovering from an even stronger earthquake in Nepal only a year earlier. We are very pleased that the FNPA can join us in Melbourne this week."
In a keynote address, Madhav K.C., president of the FNPA - which includes about 2,000 Nepalese printing houses - expressed his sincere thanks to FAPGA for the invitation.
"We Nepalese printers are facing the problem created by a giant earthquake which struck us two years ago but we are engaging in the reconstruction and development of printing houses are machinery as well."
Lane also welcomed a PrintNZ delegation that included general manager Ruth Cobb and chairman Tony Sayle.
"The relationship between Australia and New Zealand, despite being separated by water, extends across many boundaries, over many activities on many occasions, where we share common bonds, except on the field of rugby union where we demonstrate a strong rivalry between the Wallabies and the All Blacks," said Lane. "Unfortunately, the All Blacks have triumphed repeatedly over Australia in recent years."