Brussels, (Unib Rashid) — The prestigious international conference of the World Union of Wholesale Markets (WUWM) concluded successfully in Brussels, Belgium, bringing together more than 300 delegates representing 48 countries from around the world.

The event was attended by the Deputy Prime Minister of Belgium, the Chief Minister of Brussels, as well as several ambassadors and high-level representatives from various nations. It was described as the largest and most significant international gathering in the history of Belgium’s wholesale markets.

Mr. Nasser Chaudhry, a Pakistani-origin councillor of Brussels City’s 1000 Commune and a member of the Pak-Benelux Overseas Chamber of Commerce and Industry, played a key administrative role in welcoming the international delegations.

Speaking to TW News, Mr. Chaudhry expressed his honor at hosting such a distinguished audience:

“It was a great privilege for me to extend words of welcome to esteemed delegates from all over the world,” he said. “This conference marked a historic moment for Belgium’s wholesale market sector.”

During the conference, Mr. Chaudhry engaged in several insightful discussions with international representatives. In his conversation with the head of the Indian delegation, he raised a question about the challenges India faces in ensuring fast, fair, and high-quality food distribution to its citizens.

The Indian representative responded thoughtfully, saying:

“That’s an important question. You must understand that the world operates under two different systems. In Europe, food hygiene, traceability, and packaging are primarily the responsibility of local governments, with a strong focus on the consumer.

But in countries like Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan, and Sri Lanka, the system focuses more on the welfare of farmers. Therefore, infrastructure in Asia is designed around farmers’ needs, while in Europe, it caters to consumer requirements. Health and hygiene standards are not enforced as strictly in Asia as they are in Europe, where the government takes direct responsibility.”

In another engaging exchange, representatives from China shared their futuristic vision known as “No Man’s Land,” describing a fully automated world where robots, rather than humans, perform most operational tasks.

Mr. Chaudhry praised the innovative vision while also highlighting the potential challenges and ethical implications of such technological advancements.