Growers and Exporters of Flowers and Plants in Italy will benefit from the aggregation of the offices of some important trade Associations in the Sanremo Flower Market in an 'Operational Centre'. The organisations represented are: ANCEF (National Association of Flower Traders & Exporters); UCFlor (Unione Cooperativa Floricoltori della Riviera) that manages the Sanremo Flower Market); Floriviera (the Liguria Growers' Association), the trade confederations (Coldiretti, CIA and Confagricoltura), Cooperative groups such as Confcooperativa and the AGC, the Cisl trade union and a small office of I.C.E. (Italian Trade Commission). This aggregation is likely to provide a much stronger representation of the ornamental sector and an improved co-ordination of trade and promotional initiatives at a local, national and international level. It will also facilitate administrative aspects associated with transport and shipping. The local branch of the Phytosanitary Authority will also join the Operational Centre in the near future. Additionally, ANCEF has recently merged with the flower trade associations of Milan and Pescia (the Milan Wholesale Association of Flowers and Plants and the Pescia Association of Flower traders and Exporters, respectively). The Operational Centre will also be open to the public. www.ancef.it, www.sanremoflowermarket.it,