FORMAL STRUCTURE AND FUNCTIONS of AMAPWG
(Avocado Marketing and Promotion Working Group)
Background
The Avocado Marketing and Promotion Working Group (AMAPWG) made its first steps at the 4th World Avocado Congress held in Uruapan, Mexico 1999, at an informal meeting of avocado exporters.
At that meeting it was agreed that relationships between countries supplying avocados to Europe and the UK needed to be strengthened, and that sharing of certain marketing information would be to the benefit of the avocado industry as a whole.
To this end it was agreed that the group should meet at least once per year to discuss matters of mutual interest. The first meeting was held in November 2001 in Spain.
AMAPWG has always functioned on voluntary basis.
AMAPWG has always functioned on voluntary basis.
Member countries compete with each other, whilst sharing information on promotion programmes as well as weekly shipment information. It is important to note that commercial aspects are not discussed, and volumes shipped to a particular market are not controlled by AMAPWG.
The aim of AMAPWG’s information sharing is to provide good information so that those involved in the avocado industry are individually able to make their own business decisions, which they deem to be best for their businesses.
In more recent years, AMAPWG has been meeting twice annually, with one meeting at Fruit Logistica in Berlin, and the other meeting in one of the member countries.
In more recent years, AMAPWG has been meeting twice annually, with one meeting at Fruit Logistica in Berlin, and the other meeting in one of the member countries.
Discussions have gone beyond sharing of shipping information only, to the sharing of information on generic promotion and the possible coordination individual countries’ promotion efforts.
To date, AMAPWG has functioned solely on tradition and relationships between members, without having a formal structure and/or definitions.
To date, AMAPWG has functioned solely on tradition and relationships between members, without having a formal structure and/or definitions.
While this arrangement has functioned well, it is time to introduce a formal organization, so that current structure, functioning and ethos will continue in future times, when some of current representatives, of the various counties, will no longer be involved in the Avocado industry.
The aim of this document, therefore, is to formalise the structure and functioning of AMAPWG.
AMAPWG Targets
· To improve the economic viability of the 'Avocado industry of its members' and the involved countries by increasing Avocado consumption all over Europe and other areas, as well as in the domestic markets of producing countries.
· To act as a bridge between business competitors (producers/exporters/countries) by looking for those common interests which are not in conflict with the individuals' interests.
· To initiate any kind of specific activity that represents the global interest of the avocado industry.
Means
Cooperation and free information exchange among the members.
Information sharing is a beneficial tool to the global avocado industry, and in particular, to those countries supplying the European Union. To this end, activities may include, but not be limited to:
· Sharing of crop forecasts, weekly shipment forecasts and week by week actual shipments.
· Sharing information on generic avocado promotion programmes, both planned and already initiated.
· Collaboration in ideas and activities to increase consumption of avocados.
Principals & Practice
The aim of this document, therefore, is to formalise the structure and functioning of AMAPWG.
AMAPWG Targets
· To improve the economic viability of the 'Avocado industry of its members' and the involved countries by increasing Avocado consumption all over Europe and other areas, as well as in the domestic markets of producing countries.
· To act as a bridge between business competitors (producers/exporters/countries) by looking for those common interests which are not in conflict with the individuals' interests.
· To initiate any kind of specific activity that represents the global interest of the avocado industry.
Means
Cooperation and free information exchange among the members.
Information sharing is a beneficial tool to the global avocado industry, and in particular, to those countries supplying the European Union. To this end, activities may include, but not be limited to:
· Sharing of crop forecasts, weekly shipment forecasts and week by week actual shipments.
· Sharing information on generic avocado promotion programmes, both planned and already initiated.
· Collaboration in ideas and activities to increase consumption of avocados.
Principals & Practice
· AMAPWG is a voluntary organisation with mutual understanding spirit.
· Information will be shared on reciprocal basis only with those that provide information.
Each member is entitled to receive all the information which is transferred in the group.
Each member has to provide in time the agreed complete information, like 'shipment report' etc'.
· Membership is on a voluntary basis and is opened to parties/countries producing avocados and ready to accept AMAPWG spirit and principles. Membership currently includes:
Australia, Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Dominican Republic, Israel, Kenya, Mexico,
New Zealand, Peru, Spain, South Africa, and the USA.
· Meetings will be held at least once annually. Other meetings may take place, as agreed to by at least 2/3 of the members.
Annual meetings
· Each member country is entitled to two representatives who will participate in the discussions on behalf of their country. The names of the country representatives should be provided to the secretariat at least one week prior to the meeting.
· Attendance of annual meetings is open to all who may have an interest in the avocado industry. Such persons may attend as observers. Observers will not be permitted to participate in discussions, unless the chairman deems it necessary to obtain the input of observers.
· Meeting expenses (venue, refreshments etc.) will be shared by those attending, unless the hosts will decide to cover part or all of the costs. Attendees shall cover their own transport and accommodation costs.
· Agenda for the meetings will be published in advance. Members will pass their ideas/subjects at least two weeks prior the meeting. Urgent or last minute subjects will be discussed only with 2/3 of members support.
· Decisions should be accepted by consensus of all members. As a voluntary organisation there is no sense to vote or to dictate the decision of majority which are against the interest of single members.
Discussion and persuasion are key factors for keeping such a body alive.
Structure
· Member countries are those who appear on the membership list.
Adding new country to the forum is subjected to acceptance of all the current members.
Adding new member/producer, in one of the involved countries, is subjected to approval of the current country's representatives.
It may happen and known that country's representatives are not always representing the whole local industry.
· Routine operations will be done with no administration fee.
Special costs will be approved in advance and will be shared by the members.
· AMAPWG logo will be designed, for being used on formal papers concerning 'annual meetings' and decisions.
· AMAPWG has operated so far without any institutional structure or persons on formal duty.
At such time that a formal structure becomes necessary, provision is made for the following positions:
· A chairman - who should coordinate the whole policy and activity.
A secretary - who should ensure efficient operation and information exchange.
Each will be elected by a two-thirds majority for continual period. After two year term, members may request a re-election which will take place at the next annual meeting.
· The chairman and secretary may not be from the same country.
· This document is subjected for revision every second year, at the main annual meeting.
Gabi Naamani
Israel, 4.10.2009
· Information will be shared on reciprocal basis only with those that provide information.
Each member is entitled to receive all the information which is transferred in the group.
Each member has to provide in time the agreed complete information, like 'shipment report' etc'.
· Membership is on a voluntary basis and is opened to parties/countries producing avocados and ready to accept AMAPWG spirit and principles. Membership currently includes:
Australia, Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Dominican Republic, Israel, Kenya, Mexico,
New Zealand, Peru, Spain, South Africa, and the USA.
· Meetings will be held at least once annually. Other meetings may take place, as agreed to by at least 2/3 of the members.
Annual meetings
· Each member country is entitled to two representatives who will participate in the discussions on behalf of their country. The names of the country representatives should be provided to the secretariat at least one week prior to the meeting.
· Attendance of annual meetings is open to all who may have an interest in the avocado industry. Such persons may attend as observers. Observers will not be permitted to participate in discussions, unless the chairman deems it necessary to obtain the input of observers.
· Meeting expenses (venue, refreshments etc.) will be shared by those attending, unless the hosts will decide to cover part or all of the costs. Attendees shall cover their own transport and accommodation costs.
· Agenda for the meetings will be published in advance. Members will pass their ideas/subjects at least two weeks prior the meeting. Urgent or last minute subjects will be discussed only with 2/3 of members support.
· Decisions should be accepted by consensus of all members. As a voluntary organisation there is no sense to vote or to dictate the decision of majority which are against the interest of single members.
Discussion and persuasion are key factors for keeping such a body alive.
Structure
· Member countries are those who appear on the membership list.
Adding new country to the forum is subjected to acceptance of all the current members.
Adding new member/producer, in one of the involved countries, is subjected to approval of the current country's representatives.
It may happen and known that country's representatives are not always representing the whole local industry.
· Routine operations will be done with no administration fee.
Special costs will be approved in advance and will be shared by the members.
· AMAPWG logo will be designed, for being used on formal papers concerning 'annual meetings' and decisions.
· AMAPWG has operated so far without any institutional structure or persons on formal duty.
At such time that a formal structure becomes necessary, provision is made for the following positions:
· A chairman - who should coordinate the whole policy and activity.
A secretary - who should ensure efficient operation and information exchange.
Each will be elected by a two-thirds majority for continual period. After two year term, members may request a re-election which will take place at the next annual meeting.
· The chairman and secretary may not be from the same country.
· This document is subjected for revision every second year, at the main annual meeting.
Gabi Naamani
Israel, 4.10.2009
