Hon’ble Governor Sri Shiv Pratap Shukla inaugurates FPTA 65th AGM & Conference 2026

Hyderabad, October 3, 2026: The three-day FPTA 65th Annual General Meeting & Conference 2026, organised by the Federation of Paper Traders’ Association (FPTA) in association with the Telangana Paper Merchants’ Association (TPMA), was inaugurated by Hon’ble Governor of Telangana Sri Shiv Pratap Shukla at Novotel HICC, Madhapur.

The conference, being held from October 3 to 5, has brought together more than 1,000 paper traders from across India. The prestigious event has returned to Hyderabad after 19 years.

Sri Rajesh Ponnuru, CEO, ITC Ltd. (PSPD), was the Chief Guest, while Sri Pawan Agarwal, President, IPMA & CMD, Naini Papers Ltd.; Sri A.S. Mehta, President & Director, JK Paper Ltd.; and Sri Sushil Kumar Khetan, CEO & Whole Time Director, Emami Paper Mills Ltd., attended as Guests of Honour. FPTA President Sri Rajesh Jain presided over the meeting.

Addressing the gathering, Governor Sri Shiv Pratap Shukla said the paper industry supports rural farming through sustainable sourcing and remains essential for education, publishing, governance and cultural continuity. He called for constructive engagement with the government on tax-related issues, including the GST structure, and stressed the need to promote responsible paper consumption.

Outgoing FPTA President Sri Rajesh Jain highlighted the association’s initiatives during his tenure, including educational webinars, the FPTA Champions Cricket Trophy, an international study tour, the Regional South Meet and policy advocacy on GST-related concerns.

Sri Sushil Kumar Khetan said the Indian paper industry has significant growth potential, particularly in packaging and value-added papers. He emphasised the need for sustainability, recycling, automation, digitalisation, AI and stronger partnerships between mills and dealers.

Sri A.S. Mehta stressed the importance of self-reliance, digital transformation, sustainability and evolving distribution models to strengthen the paper ecosystem.

Chief Guest Sri Rajesh Ponnuru said the paper industry is a major contributor to employment and national development, supported by farmers, mills, traders and printers. He highlighted the importance of addressing the inverted GST duty structure and ensuring a level playing field for the domestic industry.

Sri Abhishek Vijaywargiya, President, TPMA, said paper continues to play an important role in preserving knowledge and supporting education, adding that the future lies in the coexistence of paper and digital technologies.

Sri Ashish Jain Bhansali, Hon. Secretary, TPMA, highlighted the association’s community initiatives, including distribution of notebooks, support for schools and educational programmes, besides its efforts to address industry concerns.

Sri T. Kishan Singh, President Nominee, FPTA, said paper traders form a vital link between mills and consumers and urged the government to address the shortage of suitable and affordable warehouse space.

India is currently the world’s third-largest paper-producing country, with annual production capacity of around 25 million tonnes. The industry sees significant potential for growth through education, publishing, printing, packaging, e-commerce, pharmaceuticals, FMCG and manufacturing.

The FPTA also emphasised sustainable sourcing, recycling and responsible consumption, noting that a significant share of Indian paper production is based on recovered and recycled fibre.