Hyderabad, Telangana, 28th of September, 2026 : The Federation of Paper Traders’ Association (FPTA), the apex national body representing paper traders and working to bridge the gap between manufacturers and consumers, in collaboration with the Telangana Paper Merchants’ Association (TPMA), will host the FPTA 65th Annual General Meeting (AGM) in Hyderabad from October 3 to 5, 2026, at Novotel HICC. This was announced by Sri Abhishek Vijaywargiya, President, TPMA; Sri Ashish Jain Bhansali, Hon. Secretary, TPMA; Sri Prasad RG, Chairman, Reception Committee, FPTA 65th AGM; Sri Vinay Baldwa, Chairman, Media & Publicity, FPTA 65th AGM; and Sri T. Kishan Singh, President Nominee, FPTA; at a press conference held today at Taj Deccan.
The prestigious three-day event will be inaugurated on October 3rd by H.E. Sri Shiv Pratap Shukla, Hon’ble Governor of Telangana. Sri Rajesh Ponnuru, CEO, ITC Ltd. (PSPD), will be the Chief Guest. 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., will be the Guests of Honour. The meeting will be presided over by Sri Rajesh Jain, President, FPTA.
More than 1,000 paper traders from across India are expected to participate in the AGM. The prestigious event returns to Hyderabad after 19 years and has added significance for the city as Sri T. Kishan Singh, Managing Director, Tirumala Balaji Paper Pvt. Ltd., Hyderabad, is set to take over as Nominee President of FPTA.
Speaking on the occasion Mr Abhishek Vijaywargiya, President, Telangana Paper Merchants’ Association; said, More than 1,000 delegates from across India, including manufacturers, industry leaders, and policymakers, will participate in the landmark FPTA 65th Annual General Meeting. The Indian paper industry is a vital pillar of the economy. Today, it produces over 24 million tonnes of paper annually, contributes more than ₹1 lakh crore to the economy, provides direct employment to about 5 lakh people, and supports around 15 lakh people indirectly. Despite India’s economic growth, the country’s per capita paper consumption is just about 16 kg, compared to the global average of 57 kg, highlighting tremendous potential for future expansion. The conference will serve as a national platform to discuss industry growth, sustainability, technological advancements, taxation issues, and emerging opportunities for the paper trade and manufacturing sectors.
Sri Prasad RG, Chairman, Reception Committee, FPTA 65th AGM; said, we have been gearing up to welcome delegates from across India, from Kanyakumari to Kashmir. A unique feature of this AGM is the participation of leading paper mills, including ITC Bhadrachalam and JK Paper. The event also brings together paper traders and manufacturers through the Federation of Paper Traders’ Associations and the Indian Paper Manufacturers Association to collectively address industry and trade challenges. There is a common misconception that paper is made by cutting trees from forests. In reality, paper mills develop their own plantations across the country, providing employment to farmers, supplying saplings and procuring the grown material for paper production. No forest produce is used. The industry also strongly promotes paper recycling. About 78% of the paper we use is recycled, helping prevent waste and conserve natural resources. Recycled paper can be used for high-quality, including multi-colour, printing. Paper is recyclable and, when responsibly produced and recycled, need not be seen as damaging to nature.
Mr T. Kishan Singh, President Nominee, Fpta; said, We as paper traders stand between paper mills and consumers, supplying paper to publishers, notebook manufacturers, printers, converters and various other industries. The need of the hour is the vital role of paper traders. We are not merely resellers; we are an important link in the paper supply chain and contribute to the economy. We seek the government’s recognition and support, particularly in addressing the shortage of suitable warehouse space. Even in Hyderabad, finding locations to store paper and efficiently supply it to different industries is a major challenge. Our vision is clear, paper deserves recognition. It is not just another commodity, it is part of our lives, our economy and nation-building. Our message is simple, Support paper, Use paper, Love paper.
Sri Ashish Jain Bhansali, Hon. Secretary, TPMA; said, A major highlight of the conference will be on October 4, when former Telangana Paper Merchants Association President Shri T. Kishan Singh takes charge as National President of FPTA. His elevation is a moment of immense pride for TPMA and the entire paper trade fraternity in Telangana. Through this AGM, we also seek to highlight that paper is not merely a commodity but an essential part of daily life, from education, textbooks and notebooks to printing, publishing, offices, packaging and government operations. Despite increasing digitisation, paper remains indispensable across sectors. We therefore appeal to the Central Government to reduce the GST on paper and paper products from the current 18% to 5% under the proposed GST reforms. This will ease the burden on manufacturers, traders and consumers and benefit the entire value chain, including students, schools, publishers, printers, packaging industries and the common consumer. Reducing GST on paper is not just a benefit to the paper trade—it is a benefit to the entire economy and society.
Mr Arvind Sharma, Past President, FPTA; On February 16, 1959, inspired by Shri Lal Bahadur Shastri ji, the Federation of Paper Traders’ Association, was formed as an all-India body to give paper traders a collective voice. Until then, paper traders had little representation at the national level. The Telangana Paper Merchants Association has a proud legacy. We have hosted three FPTA AGMs in 1975, 1989 and 2007 and are privileged to host the fourth today. Paper traders serve as the vital link between producers and consumers. We understand market demand and consumer needs and communicate them to paper mills, helping producers respond to a changing market. Therefore, strong associations and organised bodies like FPTA, have a crucial role in driving change, representing the trade and shaping the industry’s future.
Mr Vinay Baldwa,Chairman, Media & Publicity, FPTA 65th AGM; said, I’d like to express our heartfelt thanks to our Governor H.E. Shri Shiv Pratap Shukla ji, principal dignitary, Chief Minister Shri Revanth Reddy garu, Tourism Minister Shri Jupally Krishna Rao, Director of Industries Shri Nikhil Chakravarthi, Apollo Hospitals MD Smt. Sangeetha Reddy, for their kind support for this prestigious AGM.
The AGM will bring together paper traders, manufacturers, industry leaders and experts for technical seminars and discussions on the latest developments, emerging opportunities and challenges facing the paper trade. Deliberations will focus on price volatility, rising imports, working-capital constraints, taxation issues and measures to increase paper consumption. The conference will also feature addresses by industry experts and motivational sessions, including an address by Sri Gour Gopal Das.
The trade is seeking simplification and effective implementation of Nil GST on notebooks and exercise books, which can make educational stationery more affordable and encourage wider paper usage. It is also seeking easier and more affordable working-capital support, faster renewal of bank limits and better access to credit-guarantee mechanisms for eligible MSME traders.
Paper trading is highly inventory-intensive, requiring substantial capital to maintain stocks and manage the gap between purchases and customer collections. Improved access to finance is therefore important for the smooth functioning and growth of thousands of traders, particularly MSMEs.
India is the 3rd world’s major paper-producing country, with annual production capacity of around 25 million tonnes. The industry is growing at approximately 5.8–6% annually and has an estimated turnover of around more than ₹1,00,000 crores.
India’s paper and paperboard trade volume is estimated at 23.84 million tonnes. The indicative annual turnover of the paper and related-products trading sector is around ₹50,000 crore, with estimated year-on-year growth of 7–10%.
According to Industry estimates, the combined Andhra Pradesh and Telangana market accounts for around ₹3,600 crore in annual paper-trading turnover, with Telangana at approximately ₹1,650 crore and Hyderabad at around ₹1,000 crore.
The paper sector also has a significant employment footprint. India’s paper mills provide approximately 5 lakh direct and 15 lakh indirect jobs, while the wider paper-trading, distribution and allied ecosystem supports substantial additional livelihoods. In the two Telugu states, the paper trade is estimated to provide livelihoods to approximately 1–1.2 lakh people.
Despite India’s large population and growing economy, per-capita paper consumption is only around 16 kg a year, compared with the global average of approximately 57 kg. This represents significant untapped potential for the domestic paper market. The industry believes Government-led initiatives to promote paper usage in education, publishing, printing, packaging, e-commerce, pharmaceuticals, FMCG and manufacturing, along with greater adoption of sustainable paper-based alternatives to plastic, can substantially increase domestic consumption.
The packaging segment, in particular, continues to be a major driver of paper demand, supported by e-commerce, organised retail, food delivery and FMCG consumption.
FPTA is also seeking to dispel the long-standing misconception that paper consumption necessarily leads to deforestation. According to industry data, approximately 74–76% of Indian paper production is based on recovered/recycled fibre, while around 18–20% is wood-based and 6–8% comes from agricultural residue such as bagasse. Thus, approximately three out of every four tonnes of paper produced in India primarily comes from recovered, used or recycled fibre.
The industry maintains that responsible paper consumption, recycling and sustainable sourcing can make paper an important renewable and recyclable material, particularly as an alternative to environmentally harmful single-use plastics.
About The Federation of Paper Traders’ Associations
Established in 1950, FPTA has 35 affiliated associations and more than 10,000 traders as co-members across India. It works to safeguard the interests of paper traders, disseminate information on government policies, regulations, market developments and statistics, and represent the industry’s concerns before the Central and State Governments and paper manufacturers.
FPTA also promotes best practices through seminars, exhibitions and training programmes, while advocating sustainable paper consumption and recycling. As part of its environmental commitment, the federation promotes tree plantation and has been encouraging the planting of at least two trees for every tree used in paper manufacturing.
The 65th FPTA AGM in Hyderabad is expected to provide a significant national platform for the paper trade to deliberate on its challenges, identify practical solutions and chart a roadmap for a more competitive, sustainable and consumption-driven future for India’s paper industry and trade.
More Stories
TCI Organises Nationwide Blood Donation Drive in Memory of Founder Shri Prabhu Dayal Agarwal Ji.
Aman Sehrawat Receives Major Brand Recognition After Winning Olympic Bronze.
Can High Cortisol Cause Weight Gain? An Endocrinologist Explains : Dr. Narendra BS, Lead Consultant – Endocrinology & Diabetology , Aster Whitefield Hospital.