Market on the Rise

05.Ago.2013

MERCADO AGRICOLA HAS EXCEEDED EXPECTATIONS OF THE MAYOR

About a month after the reopening of the Mercado Agrícola, Mayor Ana Olivera told Montevideo Portal that the project had “exceeded the expectations” they had, resulting in benefits for Goes neighborhood in particular, and for the whole city in general.

 “We all thought this was going to be fantastic, because it meant not only the reopening of a market, but also the transformation of a neighborhood,” said the Mayor to Montevideo Portal. A month after its reopening she states “I believe it has exceeded everybody’s expectations”.

The success of the new project “is the result of many years of work from a lot of people, led by Beatriz Silva, the director”, said Olivera, who was clearly pleased with the success of the initiative.

 “I think no one had dreamt about the impact it has had in the population of Montevideo, to the point of becoming a landmark for tourists”, she said, pointing out that during the thirty days it has been open to the public “it has been visited by people from all over the world and it has already been included in the city tour bus.”

The official also mentioned that the building received a lot of words of praise from foreign representatives during the Reunión del Foro Consultivo de Ciudades y Regiones del Mercosur (Meeting of the Forum of Cities and Regions), which took place a few days ago in Montevideo.

 “It received compliments from the Mayor of Cadiz and the governor of Santa Fe”, said Olivera, adding that everyone who visited our City to participate in said Forum “took their time to go there”.

More than 11 million dollars were invested in the renovation of the market, which will be a century old this year. The majestic structure was restored based on its original concept.

The project is part of a broader plan from the City Hall of Montevideo to revitalize Goes neighborhood, which received support from the IDB via the Project Renová Goes.

The realization had the assistance of the IDB’s Multilateral Investment Fund, which gave U$S 1.213.000 to help modernize the management, improve the competitiveness of the commercial operators, marketing and communications.

The Spanish Agency of International Cooperation and Development contributed with 580.000 Euros, which were allocated mainly to the rebuilding of the facade of the historic building.