URBACT Markets takes part in kick-off event in London to launch International Week of Markets

European markets representatives have officially launched the International Week of Markets event in London. The International Week of Markets is a fortnight of activities to be held from May 14th-31st 2014 designed to promote the social, economic and environmental importance of markets to city development and quality of life for citizens.European partners in the markets industry signed a Memorandum of Understanding in the House of Commons in London last April 30th (see picture below) to celebrate the importance of markets to communities, towns and cities across Europe and the world. The Memorandum aims to increase the retail market profile and presence at the European level - especially towards the European Commission and its associated funding partners.URBACT Markets'  Barcelona representative Raimond Blasi took part in the launch event in London, hosted by the National Association of British Market Authorities (Nabma), responsible for the highly successful 'Love Your Local Market' campaign that began in 2012 and that last year saw the participation of 700 British markets and 4,000 activities. The International Week of Markets, which will follow the successful 'Love Your Local Market' model, is being organised by EU-financed markets projects URBACT Markets, Central Markets and Marakanda, along with Namba, the World Union of Wholesale Markets (WUWM), Mercasa, the cities of Barcelona and Venice, the Markets Operators Groupe Geraud, and other Dutch and French representatives. 25 partner cities in the Central Markets Project, Marakanda Project and URBACT Markets have committed to organising activities to celebrate their wholesale and retail markets with a wide variety of activities including special discounts, late night shopping, street fairs, concerts and exhibitions organised in markets, professional events and even special tasting events or cooking lessons.  These activities are being promoted on organisers' and member cities' websites and social media platforms and under the common #LYLM2014 hashtag with the objective of showing the importance of markets to local communities in many different places and their vital contribution to boosting local business, culture and sustainability. WUWM will also be promoting the event with links from its website (www.wuwm.org) to participants' on-line platforms.