The International Association of Horticultural Producers (AIPH) held its first meeting of the new AIPH Flower Auction Markets Group on 30 September 2017 in Taichung, Chinese Taipei. Hosted by Taichung City Government and TFDA Chinese Taipei the group included representatives from Netherlands (Royal FloraHolland), Brazil (Veiling Holambra), China (Kunming Flower Auction Market), Chinese Taipei (Taipei, Taichung, Changhua and Ornamental Plant Cooperative), Australia (Christensens Flower Auction) and Japan (OTA).
The Mayor of Taichung, Mr Lin Chia-Lung, welcomed the group and re-affirmed support for the flower auction system that has helped develop the flower industry in Chinese Taipei. Chairman of the meeting, AIPH Secretary General Tim Briercliffe, commented on the significance of the meeting saying “Many countries have developed flower auction markets over the years to provide a stronger marketplace for plant and flower growers and these have undoubtedly helped to grow the industry. But in an increasingly globalised world and increasingly digitised marketplaces it is important to re-evaluate the role of the Flower Auction Market and the potential for such organisations around the world to collaborate in addressing the challenges and opportunities faced. It is clear that the challenges are different in different parts of the world but the group was able to identify a number of key areas for future cooperation and there was a real enthusiasm to build on this initial discussion for the good of growers worldwide.”
The group discussed the potential for collaboration on topics including market information, benchmarking, IT/digitisation, sustainability, standards, global trading and logistics. The initiative for the group came from General Manager of TFDA Chinese Taipei, Mr Kevin Chung who commented “I see huge potential for this group to work together to solve the common challenges faced by flower auction markets in different countries. We are facing increasing competition but together we can be stronger.”
The group will meet again in 2018 and the group members would welcome participation from other flower auction markets.
