Producing High-Quality Domestic Paper: Difficult but Possible
According to the Iran Book News Agency (IBNA), citing the Public Relations of the Deputy for Cultural Affairs of the Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance; Ayub Dehghankar, the Scientific, Cultural, and Managerial Advisor to the Deputy for Cultural Affairs, has addressed the issue of domestic paper production in a note provided to the media, which you can read below:
“The discussion about domestic paper production has been ongoing in the country’s cultural and industrial spheres for years; however, the reality is that this issue requires a precise, expert, and comprehensive approach. Supporting domestic production is valuable, but it must consider technical, economic, and environmental indicators to avoid unintended consequences.
Paper production in any country is considered a strategic activity linked to cultural security, industrial development, and supply chain independence; however, special support for domestically produced paper is only justified, effective, and sustainable when based on technical, economic, and environmental realities and accompanied by a set of conditions and requirements. Unregulated and merely rhetorical support not only does not help self-sufficiency but can also lead to resource depletion, increased costs, and disruption in the publishing market.
With this introduction, some of the most important conditions for effective support of domestic paper production are outlined:
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Quantitative Sufficiency and Production Predictability
The prerequisite for any support is the national production’s actual ability to meet the country’s needs. If the nominal or operational capacity of factories cannot meet market demand, government support and avoidance of paper imports will lead to commodity shortages and price increases.
Production must be regular, programmable, and continuous. Factories must provide a production schedule so that consumers can plan their activities accordingly.
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Quality Improvement in Accordance with Publishing and Press Standards
Domestic paper must comply with global quality standards including whiteness, uniformity, grammage, strength, and durability. Supporting unusable goods leads to resource wastage, consumer dissatisfaction, and reduced national credibility. In this regard, adherence to national standards and reference laboratories, the possibility of returning shipments lacking the necessary quality, and national programs for upgrading production lines are among the matters that must certainly be considered.
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Pricing Transparency
Government support, in the absence of transparency, quickly turns into a monopoly. The pricing mechanism must be transparent, monitorable, and competitive.
Support must be conditional on competitiveness; not merely guaranteeing a fixed profit for the producer.
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Balance Between Domestic Production and Managed Imports
No country has achieved self-sufficiency by completely closing off imports. Imports play a regulatory and complementary role, especially during periods when the quality or quantity of domestic production is insufficient. A complete ban on imports deprives producers of competition and the incentive to improve.
The correct solution is smart tariffs and controlled imports.
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Attention to Environmental Considerations
This component needs no explanation given the country’s water reserves and energy production status; paper production is a water-intensive and energy-intensive industry… Support for domestic production must be accompanied by:
- Environmental impact assessment studies
- Adherence to water consumption and recycling standards
- Waste and wastewater management
- And utilization of recycled fibers.
Otherwise, the environmental costs of paper production for the country will far outweigh its economic benefits.
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Sustainable Supply of Raw Materials
Lack of access to raw materials (pulp, bleach, imported wood, etc.) leads to the shutdown of production lines.
In supporting paper production, the government must also facilitate the sustainable supply of raw materials, make the supply chain transparent, and avoid reliance on a few limited countries.
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Conditional and Timely Support
No support should be permanent, unevaluated, or unconditional. Support must be targeted, timely, and performance-based.
Each factory must annually submit a report on its performance in areas such as production volume, quality, cost reduction, and innovation.
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Consideration and Participation of Real Consumers
Policymaking in domestic paper production will not lead to desired results without considering the opinions of publishers, printers, and the country’s press.
Regular recording of consumer needs and satisfaction levels, and strengthening the relationship between producer and consumer, must be fundamental conditions for production support.
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Technology Development and Equipment Modernization
A significant part of the quality challenge results from equipment obsolescence.
Real support should come in the form of modernization facilities, tax exemptions for investment in new technologies, and the transfer of technical knowledge from leading companies.
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Monitoring, Evaluation, and Transparent Reporting
Effective support requires continuous measurement; quarterly reporting on production, quality, price, and inventory, creating an accessible system for public opinion and market players, and the possibility of policy adjustments based on data and evidence are essential for this endeavor.
In summary,
Supporting domestically produced paper is a commendable, indeed necessary and strategic, action; but the condition for the success of this policy is that it be realistic, conditional, smart, and quality-based.
To ensure that the fate of the country’s paper industry does not, like some other domestic industries, lead to resource waste and public dissatisfaction, serious thought must be given to quality improvement, appropriate pricing, etc., and the scope of support should be expanded in proportion to the observance of these requirements. This is the path we are pursuing at the Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance, and we hope its effects will soon become apparent in the paper market.
