FESPA and its Turkish Member Association and FESPA Eurasia partner, ARED, are continuing their commitment and investing in the future of the local print community with a number of localised initiatives to encourage, facilitate and support ongoing development.

Drawing on resources from FESPA's structured international reinvestment programme, Profit for Purpose, FESPA's focus is to provide printers with access to information resources and opportunities to help their businesses grow profitably and sustainably through central and Association-led initiatives.

Michael Ryan, Group Exhibition Manager at FESPA, comments: "FESPA is more than just an exhibition company and through our Profit for Purpose philosophy we want to support and give back to the global print community. While FESPA Eurasia is our annual touchpoint with the Eurasian industry, throughout the year we are working closely with ARED to host ongoing initiatives to continue our contact and support to local printers and signmakers."

Through FESPA's Profit for Purpose programme, ARED has invested in a range of local activities and events designed to educate, share knowledge and best practice, build connections and help to grow the regional print industry.

Continuing the success of its Turkish Signage Awards, which celebrate the creativity and innovation of Turkish signmakers, ARED will once again host this years' Awards at FESPA Eurasia 2016 (8-11 December 2016, CNR Expo, Istanbul, Turkey). The finalists will be decided by a judging panel, which will be voted for by visitors to FESPA Eurasia. The overall winner will be entered into FESPA's annual Awards at FESPA 2017 in Hamburg (8-12 May), where they can compete on an international level.

Funded through FESPA's Profit for Purpose programme and to support the future print and sign generation, ARED hosts biannual Young ARED Meetings. These meetings provide ARED with an impactful way of connecting with students as well as printers and signmakers starting out. The Meetings include networking opportunities, which provide a great introduction to the industry and to other peers where they can share their experience, as well as attend educational seminars on industry related topics.

The Young ARED Meetings further the Association's commitment of reinvesting in the future generation of print. In 2014 ARED also invested in a graphics arts and sign school in Turkey to help inspire students and provide them with the knowledge and tools to success in this industry, 43 students have attended the course over the last two years.

Testament to FESPA and ARED's partnership, their recently hosted networking evening for FESPA Eurasia exhibitors brought together 120 exhibitors, including Fujifilm, Optimum Digital Planet, Pimms, Lidya Group, Nova Bask?, Unifol, Alfredo Modiano, Brother and Promakim. They were updated on show developments and ARED initiatives and had the opportunity to network opportunities, share news and update them on ARED initiatives. ARED Board Member, Ibrahim Demirsere comments: "The networking evening was a great success and it was fantastic to see so many of our exhibitors attend. With only three months to go until FESPA Eurasia, the evening gave us the opportunity to connect with exhibitors and for them to ask any questions they had ahead of FESPA Eurasia 2016."

ARED President Halil Eligür, ARED, comments: "Growing a vibrant, creative and prosperous print industry is one of our core objectives and our initiatives, which have support and funding from FESPA, will help to nurture and develop existing members' businesses, raise awareness and attract new members and signmakers who are at the beginning of their signage career. Our aim for the Signage Awards is to create a new level of prestige in the Turkish signage industry. Last year's Awards were extremely successful and we were delighted that the winner went on to represent Turkey at FESPA's Awards at FESPA Digital 2016. We hope our regional winner will be able to replicate this success next year in Hamburg, at FESPA 2017."

Michael Ryan, continues: "ARED's activities in Turkey and the surrounding regions clearly demonstrates Profit for Purpose in action and how it can help and support the local print industry. Younger generations have fresh and creative ideas, which will be hugely beneficial to the print and signage industries and the Young ARED Meetings will provide them with the knowledge and support to move the industry forward."