With this, the Asian Packaging Congress, a seminar and AsiaStar '99, an international competition for the packaging industry, would also be held in the capital.

The congress, which is hailed as one of the largest of its kind in the world, bringing together a cross-section of the packaging fraternity world-over, would also showcase a packaging exposition--Indpack '99. IIP, which is hosting these events, at present holds the secretariat of APF since January 1, 1999.

Speaking to The Financial Express, PV Narayanan, who had been recently elected as secretary general of APF said, "the objective of the federation is to bring the entire packaging fraternity in the Asia-Pacific region under its umbrella with a view to exchange and update theindustry about the happenings in the packaging sector globally."

The Asian Packaging Conference would discuss the developments and innovations in packaging media, machinery and systems, product packaging, identification and distribution and environmental regulations, apart from concentrating on food products packaging.

Over 20 international experts from countries like Singapore, USA, Germany, Sweden, Mexico, Indonesia and Australia among others would share their experience and knowledge with the participants of the conference.

The deliberations in the congress are envisaged to highlight the recent developments in various fields of packaging. This would lay the foundation for the requirements in the next millennium, said Narayanan. The highlight is the active participation of many experts, both from the developed and developing countries, he further added.

It is learnt that nearly 60 overseas experts and delegates and 200 delegates from Indian industries would be attending the congress. Over 40industrial units from various walks of the packaging sector would be exhibiting their capabilities in areas like materials, machinery, systems and service during the congress.

The conference would focus on the developments of packaging, technology development, business interest and the availability of machines and raw materials to help the overall development of the industry, to update their standards.

The APF secretariat rotates between voting members. The secretariat, which was earlier held by Thailand, was recently transferred to IIP, which would be hosting the events in the country.

APF was established in Tokyo in 1967 as an international non-profit organisation with the objectives of improving cooperation in the fields of packaging technology, education, design and environmental aspects among others, in the Asia-Pacific region. At present, APF comprises of packaging organisations, institutes and professionals, representing the packaging industries of about 14 Asian countries.

The AsiaStar '99awards is an annual event aimed to acknowledge the excellences of the designers and the industry towards development and innovation in the field of packaging. The recognition through this award covers innovations in materials and form, package design (functional and aesthetic), environmental aspects and transport worthiness. The entries are broadly classified into unit/retail packs and transport/shipper packs.

Entries are invited from member countries, who are the current national award holders of that particular country and are judged by a panel of APF.

The chairman and director of IIP, PD Shah and PV Narayanan, were elected as the president and secretary general in the last general body meeting held in China, and consequently India the secretariat from this year.

The APF also conducts a distance education (correspondence) course of 18 months, which is a three-semester programme. "The IIP has been given the privilege of conducting the programme having been recogonised as a premier institute foreducation in packaging in theis part of the world," said Narayanan.

The packaging industry and its allied sector are also updated through a APF bulletin on developments and techno-commercial information. The federation also circulates a monthly update on important events in the industry for the benefit of its members.