Opportunities and dialogue for the merchants of Carrera 9, who were intervened by an operation to recover public space.
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NewsOpportunities and dialogue for the merchants of Carrera 9, who were affected by an operation to recover public space. After the controversial operation to recover public space in downtown Cali, the Mayor's Office and merchants are seeking alternatives to move forward during the year-end season. Photo: Alcaldía de Cali / Samir RojasJOURNALIST10.11.2026 05:11 Updated: 10.11.2026 05:11
On the morning of Monday, November 9, 2026, the Cali Mayor's Office held a dialogue and consultation meeting with the informal vendors located on Carrera 9 between streets 13 and 13A. The meeting, led by the Secretariats of Economic Development, Security and Justice, and Peace and Citizen Culture, aimed to present various alternatives designed to create new commercial and employment opportunities for this population within the framework of the local economy. There are proposals for free storefronts for the year-end season in Cali. Photo: Alcaldía de CaliDuring the meeting, the municipal administration heard the merchants' proposals and presented a pilot plan focused on the year-end season, which will continue to be evaluated according to the conclusions provided by the informal vendors. Commercial and employment alternativesAmong the commercial and employment alternatives being evaluated, the proposals presented by the district administration include the sponsorship of formal storefronts, which grants access to free spaces in shopping centers near the area at least through December to boost sales in environments suitable for their productive units. Merchants criticized the institutional intervention. They are seeking alternatives to reactivate. Photo: Samir RojasLikewise, direct hiring was proposed through the employment of merchants in other productive units during the year-end season to ensure direct income, as well as the 'Guardians of the Center' project, focused on participation as tourist or commercial guides without this implying the abandonment of their traditional sales activity. Other initiatives presented included holding a Fair of Informal Productive Units in the city center, tailored to the consumption needs of Cali residents and visitors, linkage strategies to connect productive units with future clients and business chains, and reconversion and formalization processes with institutional support. READ ALSO Inventory managementRegarding inventory management and institutional commitments, the Secretary of Economic Development, Laura Loreto Arias, highlighted the vendors' knowledge of the commercial dynamics of the sector, emphasizing the proposal to engage them as promoters to guide visitors about the tourist and commercial offerings. In downtown Cali, an urban renewal process is underway. Photo: Alcaldía de CaliIn addition, the meeting addressed the situation of the merchandise reported by the merchants and, as part of the commitments made, the Secretariat of Security and Justice will cross-check the information provided by the spokespeople to manage the return of the products or their immediate replacement in cases where damage has been verified. Finally, the district administration indicated that it will continue to promote dialogue spaces to advance joint solutions with the informal vendors in the downtown area. This content was written with the assistance of artificial intelligence, based on information from the Cali Mayor's Office. It was also reviewed by a journalist and an editor. Follow all the news from Colombia on Facebook and Twitter, or through our weekly newsletter.
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