25th WUWM Congress in Beijing
WUWM Declaration

On the occasion of the World Union of Wholesale Markets (WUWM) 25th Congress held in Beijing, China from 3-6 September 2007 under the theme: “The emerging strategic role of modern food markets in the global food supply chain”, delegates from 34 countries gather here today to express unanimous agreement in:

Supporting the vital role of both public and private wholesale markets as fundamental public services that serve the commercial, socio-economic and environmental goals of local communities the world over;

Welcoming the strong role national governments can play in providing any necessary legislative framework and monitoring assistance for food market managers and traders in order for them to successfully compete within the food chain, providing citizens with the highest standards of food safety and security;

Encouraging the current focus within China for strengthened supply chain management, and the efforts of national food markets to ensure ongoing modernisation and development so as to better serve the domestic and international trade of Chinese fresh produce;

Offering all food markets in China a supportive international platform and network through the WUWM, within which any issues related to the management, construction, modernisation and development of food markets may be discussed, thus helping to ensure the ongoing participation and competitivity of China in the international food distribution chain.

We congratulate the Chinese National Agricultural Wholesale Market Association (CAWA) on its successful hosting of this first ever WUWM congress in Asia , and we encourage their ongoing pro-active participation in WUWM activities in the future.

We offer all food markets in Asia the opportunity to participate in WUWM, and look to the possible future establishment of an Asian regional section that would be active in bringing information, support and collaboration to the international food market community.

WUWM is an international non-profit association that supports and promotes the international exchange of information on wholesale and retail markets, with a view to improving their construction, organisation, management and profile.

For further information please contact: Maria Cavit, Secretary General, World Union of Wholesale Markets (WUWM), Tel: +31 70 361 1728, Fax: +31 70 360 6908, E-mail: m.cavit@wuwm.org , www.wuwm.org

Info-Service:
Prelimanary report
Congress website
WUWM website