Market vendors in Nadi will now be able to accommodate themselves at a new accommodation center when the new Namaka Municipal Market project is completed.
Minister for Local Government and Infrastructure Parveen Bala officiated at the foundation laying ceremony of the new Namaka Market project yesterday.
He says the market will also have an accommodation center with 48 beds and basic accommodation facilities.
Bala says this is another milestone project funded by the government and UN Women with a $4.79 million investment.
He says government wants vendors to have proper facilities and this is a priority.
Bala says UN Women have given $US200,000 while the Fijian government funded the rest.
He says this new Namaka Market facility will have an additional 355 vendor stalls compared to existing 221 stalls which will bring the total to 576 stalls.
He says the proposed extension is also designed as disability friendly and facilities that are environmentally friendly.
Bala says facilities include the introduction of rain water harvesting with a capacity storage of 20,000 litres, solar energy and the implementation of the 3R Program to reduce solid waste at source.
He adds that Nadi will be declared the third city in Fiji in December.
The Minister also says that November will be a historical month for Nadi and Fiji as a whole as the Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama will take over the Presidency role of the COP 23.
Bala says the proposed extension of the market is carried out by government to support the farmers and general market vendors who have shown an interest to be part of Nadi Town's economic growth
