TİKA Contributes to Boosting the Economy in the city of Armenia in Colombia

Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TİKA) provided street vendors with 50 carts in the city of Armenia, Colombia, in cooperation with the Municipality of Armenia in order to boost the local economy.

In Colombia, where the informal employment accounts for more than 60% of the total employment, Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TİKA) supported street vendors in cooperation with the Municipality of Armenia in order to ensure the registration of street sales in the city center of Armenia and prevent the crowding caused by such sales activities.

In the project, which aims to prevent the concentration of sales activities in a single center, 50 carts provided to vendors enabled them to sell their products in alternative locations in the city. The carts also contributed to preventing the crowding of shoppers during the pandemic, enabling sales under hygienic conditions, and providing services to citizens in various parts of the city.

In his speech at the distribution ceremony of the carts, José Manuel Ríos Morales, Mayor of Armenia, said, “I would like to send my special thanks to TİKA from the Quindianidad Square for the cart supply project implemented to enable street vendors to sell fruits, vegetables, and other products in our city. This project contributes to the maintenance of order in the city and the growth of the commercial activities of street vendors.” 

Morales added that they would continue to strengthen the friendly relations between Turkey and both Colombia and the city of Armenia.

At the ceremony, Martin Alonso Guerrero, who was provided with a cart, stated that they needed such support and thanked TİKA for providing great convenience in their activities. Henry Torralba noted that they would work with safer and more comfortable vehicles thanks to TİKA, and that he would be able to deliver his fruits to all neighborhoods in Armenia with his cart.