Sidon promotes new location for street vendors

Fresh produce sellers complain
about poor business

The Sidon Municipality held a meeting with the city’s leading figures to discuss problems related to relocating street vendors to the new souks area.

Earlier in March, the municipality had called on street vendors to move to a new area and off the streets and sidewalks. The decision received the full support of all political sides. “Better organization within the city helps improve commercial activity,” said Mohammad Al-Saoudi, head of the Sidon Municipality.

Despite repeated warnings that they should remain in their new designated areas, some vendors refused to abide by the municipality’s decision. They demanded that the municipality allow them to move freely between the old commercial souks and the new location to benefit from the large number of shoppers.

President of the Merchants Association of Sidon and its Suburbs, Ali Sharif, said this is a “vital project to rehabilitate the city’s commercial infrastructure.” He called for a swift solution to compel vendors to clear the streets.

Street vendors had organized a sit-in earlier this month to protest the decision, complaining of poor business at the new location.