Mercabarna’s Green Point has benefited since early September from a new machine that recycles Porexpan, or expanded polystyrene. This is a material regularly used in the Central Fish Market and numerous companies in the Complementary Activities Area (ZAC).

Mercabarna and Samsung – through its authorised distributor Mkatel – have reached an agreement that will enable Alimentary Unit users to purchase appliances and electronic products at a 20-30% discount.

Close to 50 finance managers and accountants from Mercabarna companies attended the two sessions of the course on the new General Accounting Plan given in October. Mercabarna set up this course to provide Alimentary Unit firms with all the necessary information concerning the Plan, scheduled to go into effect in January 2008 and which constitutes a major step forward towards harmonisation in accounting, since it incorporates most of the international regulations (IAS/IFRS). The Institute of Continuing Education at Pompeu Fabra University gave the 20-hour courses explaining the basic aspects of the new regulations.

On 21 September Mercabarna received Ivan Dragoni and Cristiano Navarro, two professors from the University of Milan, who were keen to see its infrastructures and be informed about its operation. These academics coordinate a project, commissioned by Sogemi, the company that manages Milan’s markets, which foresees the building of a food study centre and a market open to the general public in Milan’s Wholesale Market precinct.