Heidelberg Steps Up Print Training In Afghanistan

Heidelberg and the Gesellschaft fur Technische Zusammenarbeit (GTZ) in Kabul have signed an agreement on a joint training concept for skilled personnel in the Afghan print industry.

Heidelberg and the Gesellschaft fur Technische Zusammenarbeit (GTZ) in Kabul have signed an agreement on a joint training concept for skilled personnel in the Afghan print industry.

With immediate effect, GTZ will provide trainers and training materials for the 300 square metre training centre opened by Heidelberg in Kabul in January.

Heidelberg will provide the presses, pre-press equipment and finishing systems.

The training is directed at participants aged between 20 and 45 who already have previous knowledge of printing and work in one of the 60 printshops in the country.

The training course, which accommodates 16 participants a year, lasts six months with periods during the course spent at their place of work to give students a chance to put what they have learned into practice.

The course is designed for printers, pre-press operators, engineers and electricians specialising in presses.

Participants receive a salary for the duration of the training.

"The agreement concluded today supports Afghanistan in reconstructing a fully operational print industry.

By opening the training centre, Heidelberg has created the largest printshop in the country and an important platform for knowledge transfer", said Dr Michael Outschar, Head of the eastern Europe market centre.

"For example, Afghanistan needs around 20 million school books a year, most of which have previously been printed abroad.

This training cooperation will give a boost to print expertise in Afghanistan and keep investment in the country", explained Hans-Hermann Dube, head of the GTZ in Kabul.

Heidelberg is the first manufacturer in the printing industry to offer products through its own local organisation in Afghanistan.

The Kabul training centre is in the grounds of Heidelberg's Afghanistan sales office, which was established in April 2003.

The company currently has two staff and is coordinated by Heidelberg's eastern Europe sales company in Vienna.

The company said its mission in Afghanistan is to support post-war reconstruction in the country and build sales of printing machines (for the time being mainly used) and consumables, as well as training and services.

The first orders for presses have already been received.

After 23 years of war, Afghanistan's print media industry is for the most part in a rudimentary state.

The market also requires skilled personnel and good quality machinery if the value-added chain for the production of printed products is to be kept within the country.

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