The Rochester, NY-based Global Packaging Alliance (GPA) held its 2005 annual meeting in Mumbai, India, in late January. With members convening from all over the world, the yearly event was a chance to discuss strategies and goals, and also provided an opportunity for alliance members to evaluate potential partners in the world's second-most populous nation.

GPA members include Diamond Packaging (Rochester, NY); Robert Leunis & Chapman Group (Hannover, Germany); Colorpak Packaging Group (Melbourne, Australia); Gonçalves SA Indústria Gráfica (Sao Paolo, Brazil); JSC Polygrafoformlenie (St. Petersburg, Russia); Yau Bon Offset Printing (Quarry Bay, Hong Kong, China); and Cartmont Packaging (Tlalnepantla, Mexico).

The meeting agenda emphasized expanding GPA's global presence. Among topics addressed: packaging trends, technical developments and benchmarking productivity measures. Members also visited several package-printing and converting facilities in Mumbai and New Delhi.

Some end-user customers of GPA companies include Agfa-Gevaert, Bayer, Beiersdorf, Eastman Kodak, Gillette, GlaxoSmithKline, L'Oreal, Nestlé, Schering Plough and Unilever. Services provided: designing and producing innovative paperboard and plastic packaging, as well as providing logistical services such as fulfillment and POP management.