First time in India, WUWM conference Will Be Organized in Gurugram

For the first time in India, the 33rd Conference of World Union of Wholesale Market (WUWM) will be organized from 10 to 12 October, 2018 in Gurugram by the Haryana State Agricultural Marketing Board.

Facts :

• The 33rd conference of WUWM would be the first ever in India and the second in Asia.
• This year Conference Theme is - The Wholesale Markets in the Digital Era: Challenges and Opportunities
• Representatives of wholesale market from 250 countries around the globe would participate in this conference.
• The leading Business establishments of India would also participate in this conference.
• 33rd WUWM Conference is being organized in coordination with the National Council of Agricultural Marketing Boards of States.
• The conference is being organized on the diversification of crops, digitization of value chain integration, partnership of international market and marketing, e-trade, cold chain and other related topics.
• The Various representatives of wholesale market associations of different countries participating in the conference would also visit the vegetable markets of Haryana.

Background :

• Prior to this 30th conference of WUWM was organized in China during the year 2015. The theme of the 30th WUWM conference was : “Integration & Innovation –Intelligent Development of Wholesale Markets”.
• 31st WUWM Conference was held in Rome, Italy. Hosted by the Centro Agroalimentare Roma (CAR) Scpa and is co-organised with United Nations Food & Agriculture Organisation (FAO). The overall Theme: “The Fresh Way to Feed the Planet”.
• During the 32nd conference of Wholesale Market in Barcelona Spain, an agreement was signed by the Haryana Government to organize the 33rd conference in Haryana. The overall theme of the 32nd conference was: Responsible and Efficient Markets.

World Union of Wholesale Market (WUWM) :

• WUWM member conference normally holds twice a year, in the spring and autumn, a wholesale/retail conference open to both members and observers; the annual venues normally alternate between Europe and the rest of the world. Thematic or regional meetings are also held as the need arises.
• The WUWM congress is open to both members and non-members and is relevant to all wholesale/retail market operators and traders, food hygiene/security experts, food industry representatives, producers, distributors, academics, and national / regional decision-makers. WUWM congresses provide delegates with valuable networking opportunities, and an international forum to debate the latest issues and trends facing not only wholesale and retail markets, but the market sector and food distribution industries worldwide.
• WUWM Conferences are primarily aimed at the WUWM membership, however non-member observers and guests are always welcome to register and attend.

Haryana State Agricultural Marketing Board :

• Haryana State Agricultural Marketing Board is a statutory organization working under the control of the Government of Haryana. The basic mandate of this board is to set up marketing infrastructure for regulation of sale, purchase, storage and processing of all kinds of agricultural produce. HSAMB played a pivotal role in the Green Revolution in agriculture sector in 1960s leading to elimination of the food shortage in India.
• The organization has established a network of approximately 500 marketing yards / purchase centres throughout the length and breadth of Haryana. Execution of engineering works such as construction of new marketing yards, their up-gradation and repair are done by the Engineering Wing of the Board. The basic source of income of the organization is from the market fee which is levied on the sale and purchase of agricultural produce.
• Haryana is the second largest producer of grains, seventh in flower production and tenth for vegetables and fruit production in India.

By: Harman Sandhu