The 27th Congress of the World Union of Wholesale Markets (WUWM) will take place in Istanbul, Turkey next month.
Heldunder the theme ‘Globalising Wholesale Markets: Ensuring Demand and Supply between East and West’, delegates from over 35 countries will meet on 10-13 May.
The conference will explore issues such as foodhygiene and certification, transportation, new market planning, the market customer, and logistical processes on the wholesale market.
'Istanbul has beena vital centre for trade and distribution since the mid 16th century,' said IstanbulWholesale Market director Bayram Ali çakiroglu. 'Subsequently the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality is well placed to show the world the Turkish wholesale and retail tradition in fresh food marketing and distribution.'
The WUWM congress will be hosted by the Istanbul Market in close co-operation with Istanbul University. The university is currently involved in a modernisation programme for the market which is itself split in two – boasting premises in both the eastern and the western parts of the city.
Adaily average of 8000 vehicles enter the market which houses some 864 large companies trading alongside hundreds of smaller traders, as well as some large and small supermarket companies.
There is a daily circulation of 50,000 metric ton of fruit and vegetables, with 97 per cent of the products entering into the wholesale market of domestic origin. More than 20,000 people are employed on the market.
Speakerswill participate from a variety of countries including Australia, China, South Korea, France, Spain, Italy, Germany, Switzerland, the UK, and of course Turkey. WUWM Secretary General, Maria Cavit, notes the impressive quality of the presenters.
She said: 'We are confident that delegates will find the information and experience exchange resulting from this congress to be of immense value.
'One of the most effective links in the global food supply chain is the world’s foodmarkets. They exist in all sizes, and function in a variety of ways.'
