As part of a networking process among Mediterranean countries in the food sector, a study tour to three Italian leading wholesale markets (Rome, Naples and Salerno) was organized by FAO from November 30 to December 2 2009.

The workshop was attended by some 25 delegates coming from nine South-East Mediterranean countries (Morocco, Tunisia, Algeria, Libya, Egypt, Lebanon, Yemen, Syria, Jordan).

In this framework a meeting was organized on December 2 by the Italian Telematic Commodity Exchange for food and agriculture (BMTI) in cooperation with the Italian National Association of Wholesale Markets Directors ANDMI, in order to improve trade relations between Mediterranean countries and expand the markets of many States and products.

This was one of the first concrete steps for the realization of an Agribusiness Telematic Exchange (BAT - Borsa Agroalimentare Telematica), the virtual market that will be presented in Milan at the 2015 Expo, based on the Italian experience, the first of this kind.

The meeting, held in Rome at the headquarters of Unioncamere, was attended by Mr. Annibale Feroldi of BMTI, Mr. Pietro Cernigliaro of ANDMI, Mr. Gianfranco Scala FAO, Mr. Antonio Felice of Green Med Journal, and Mr. Amedeo Del Principe of Unioncamere.

During the study tour, the Mediterranean Association of Wholesale Markets Directors - whose first Assembly will be held at the 3rd Green Med Forum in May 2010 in Rome - was presented as well.