Walvis Bay Mayor Trevino Forbes says the contribution of informal businesses to the economy of the town is valued.

Forbes says it is for this reason that the municipality, together with the Erongo Regional Council, has identified a piece of land and will soon construct an open market to support informal traders.

The mayor says the population of Walvis Bay has grown exponentially as people from all corners of the country flock to the harbour town each year in search of employment opportunities.

Forbes says that unfortunately, many end up unemployed and take up street vending as a means of survival.

Walvis Bay, he says, has informal open markets, but traders prefer to do business in places where they have access to clients.

He says the envisaged market will provide vendors with sufficient stalls in a hygienic environment.

Forbes was responding to street vendors concerns about a lack of proper marketing facilities in Walvis Bay's Kuisebmund suburb.