The transport sector has long played a key role in Tunisia’s development given the country’s focus on exports and tourism. A combination of low logistical costs and proximity to European markets helped it attract visitors and export everything from olive oil to airplane components. As part of the Tunisia 2020 strategy, the government has been looking to regain logistical competitiveness and appears…
Interview:Anis Ghedira What are the most pressing issues in terms of Tunisia’s transport infrastructure? ANIS GHEDIRA: Despite past government investment, Tunisia’s transport infrastructure suffers from serious deficiencies in terms of capacity, operation, maintenance and the adaptation of technological advances, all of which have led to additional costs in the transport and logistics sectors.…
Interview:Anis Riahi How can Tunisia grow as a regional and international transport centre? ANIS RIAHI: Tunisia has significant advantages over other countries. Located in the centre of the continent’s northern coast, and thus close to many European capitals, Tunisia is well placed to act as an entryway, not only for North Africa, but also for sub-Saharan Africa. Clients often opt for air…
As can be seen in so many other cities in the MENA region, Tunis has had to grapple with a soaring demand for public transport services, as a result of continued population growth and urban sprawl. The city is comparatively well equipped to handle the growing demand for transit solutions, with a tramway system, Métro de Tunis, operated by the Tunisian Transport Company (Société des Transports…
Tunisia’s GDP totalled TD84.3bn (€36.2bn) in 2015, expanding at a rate of 0.8%, down from growth of 2.3% the year before. The fall was due to a variety of external factors, including two terrorist incidents that negatively affected the tourism sector in particular and shook business confidence more generally. However, growth picked up somewhat in 2016, standing at 1%, 1.4% and 1.3% in the firs
Interview:Sami Battikh How are the various maritime infrastructure projects in Tunisia progressing? SAMI BATTIKH: There are two major maritime infrastructure projects in the pipeline in Tunisia, which are the enlargement of the port of Sfax and the construction of a deep-water port in Enfidha. Project studies for the enlargement of the port of Sfax are in their third phase. Plans are also…
Tunisia is considered to be one of the success stories – if not the success story – of the Arab Spring, but that does not mean its economy has escaped the turbulence of recent years. The instability generated by Tunisia’s 2011 revolution resulted in the delayed roll out of important infrastructural projects and needed maintenance of existing infrastructure. Although Tunisia’s utility infrastructure…
In December 2015 the Road Transport Corridors Project – a $230m World Bank initiative to upgrade Tunisia’s interior roads – was launched. The project’s main purpose is to improve three key road corridors that connect lagging interior regions with Tunisia’s coastal economic growth poles, where opportunities for advancement tend to be concentrated. The bank hopes the project will reduce travel…
Since the days of ancient Carthage, Tunisia has been hugely reliant on its ports to tap into foreign markets. Even today it conducts 96% of its foreign trade by sea. As a result, the country has a vast network of maritime-related infrastructure. It has two container ports in Tunis and Sfax and seven smaller, specialised commercial ports. More than 27m tonnes of goods transit through Tunisian ports…
With Tunisia’s young population and well-maintained infrastructure, there is the opportunity for strong economic development. The establishment of democratic rule in the country should also be a major boon in terms of creating a positive business environment characterized by the strong rule of law. Tunisia has a deserved reputation for stability and moderation, and while the political dialogue w
