The Municipal Affairs Bureau (IAM) has unveiled a plan to revitalize the Taipa Market by adding “gastronomy + culture and creativity” elements to the traditional market.
20 new light food, cultural, and creative product stalls will soon be available for public tender.
The optimization work will be completed in the fourth quarter of this year, and the public tender stalls will aim to be ready for the market and begin their trial operation in the same quarter.
In a press statement, the IAM said it hopes to make the best use of public resources by providing a platform that meets the needs of those interested in entering the cultural, creative, or specialty food sectors.
The bureau also added that the space is intended to serve as a friendly environment for young people and entrepreneurs to launch their businesses while promoting the transformation of the traditional market.
Considering the market’s location in an area seen as a hub for locals and tourists, surrounded by tourist attractions and a high volume of foot traffic, the IAM noted that it has been promoting developments to make the space more attractive.
Recently, the bureau installed air conditioners and barrier-free facilities at the venue while collecting opinions from various sectors on developing traditional markets.
Concurrently, it organized a competition for local tertiary institutions on innovative business plans for markets to explore ways to revitalize the traditional market with young members of the public.
IAM notes that, for the time being, it will retain the traditional market’s supply of fresh and live food while “making the best use of the market’s layout to create space to introduce the new elements that the community has been proposing.”
The bureau added that it will adjust the distribution of stalls in the market and merge some spaces in vacant stall areas. Other efforts include the beautification of the building’s façade.
After all the optimization work, the ground floor of the Taipa Market will continue to sell fresh, live food and traditional groceries. Additionally, after the public tender, a new space will be created on the first floor to host light food, cultural, and creative stalls.
According to IAM, the smallest stall area is 8.1 square meters, and the largest is 30.9 square meters.
A dining area will also be added on the first floor, and a café space will be created on the rooftop.
New stalls divided into three categories
The 20 stalls will be divided into three categories by area and size. According to the “Public Market Management Regime,” the stall tenants will be recruited through public tender.
Those interested in bidding can write a tender proposal based on their intentions, following the qualifications and requirements.
The assessment committee will evaluate the proposals based on participants’ operational strategies, experience and qualifications, daily business hours, diversity or originality of goods, and convenience of payment methods, among other criteria.
The final awardees will be granted a three-year contract during which IAM will monitor and evaluate the stalls’ operating status. Those who violate regulations or fail to meet the standards may have their contracts terminated.
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