TRNC Ministry of Tourism and GİKAD to establish a gastronomy and culture house in Girne’s Bandabuliya

TRNC Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Tourism, Culture, Youth and Environment Fikri Ataoğlu and İchim Kavuklu Çağiner, Chairwoman of the Association of Turkish Cypriot Women Entrepreneurs (GİKAD), signed a protocol for the “Bandabuliya Gastronomy and Culture House” project in Girne.

Under the agreement, the ministry will purchase commercial kitchen equipment and appliances and transfer them to GİKAD for use. The building will host workshops and vocational training courses for women entrepreneurs.

In Northern Cyprus, Bandabuliya refers to historic covered municipal markets: such buildings can be found in both Lefkoşa and Girne. The Girne venue is now planned to serve as a centre for local cuisine and specialised workshops.

The project’s stated objectives include developing tourism and local gastronomy, preserving and promoting cultural heritage, providing vocational training for women entrepreneurs, creating new jobs and contributing to socio-economic development.

Fikri Ataoğlu called the signing of the protocol an important step towards supporting women’s entrepreneurship and turning Bandabuliya into a prominent centre of gastronomy and culture. The ceremony was attended by Serhat Akpınar, Secretary-General of the Democratic Party and a member of parliament, and Serhan Aktunç, Permanent Secretary of the ministry.