East Africa, a promising market for printing industry

East Africa, which witnessed an economic growth rate of 5.9% in 2017, is the fastest growing region on the African continent and one of the world’s most rapidly expanding markets for security printing.

The Printing Industry in East Africa: East Africa, which recorded an economic growth rate of 5.9% in 2017, is the fastest growing market in the African continent and one of the world’s most rocketing markets for security printing.

Increased demand for packaged consumer goods presents opportunities for industry players. Growth segments are made of signage, outdoor advertising billboards and security printing. There is rising demand for anti-counterfeiting printing measures like tamper evident inks and instant verification security inks.

There is focus on the printing sector in the East African Community member states and Ethiopia. It includes profiles of 37 companies namely De La Rue Kenya, a subsidiary of De La Rue, the world’s largest commercial printer of banknotes, Nampak Kenya and the previously state-owned Printing and Publishing, operated by a consortium comprising Rwanda’s Great Lakes Communications and Media Centre and the Kenya based company Print Fast Kenya Ltd.

He says regional factors are overall positive and indicate enormous potential for print vendors and their partners. East Africa’s dominant markets have experienced robust economic growth in the past year but several other more local influences should also factor into the overall equation of how print vendors choose to operate in the region. Market growth therefore signals that exceptional partnerships with the right companies mark a significant advantage over rivals.

The key players need quality information that helps them find the right partners, support the right equipment, and develop the right set of skills to support the dominant markets in Uganda, Tanzania, Kenya and their neighbors.