Transport
From The Report: Tunisia 2016
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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 (water, electricity and gas) ranks strongly by regional standards, its transport-related infrastructure – historically one of the country’s important comparative advantages, with high levels of productivity and reliable performance – has deteriorated in recent years. From 2010 to 2014, the country dropped 49 places on the World Bank’s Logistics Performance Index, falling from 61st to 110th. To reverse the decline of recent years, and in turn improve maintenance, capacity and efficiency, the country is rolling out several initiatives to boost connectivity, in collaboration with external donors and private sector partners. Among the new projects mooted are a new Africa-focused freight carrier, highway upgrades and a pending open skies agreement – all of which, if executed in a timely fashion, should help Tunisia begin to move up the rankings. Policy changes and increasing the private sector’s role through partnerships will serve to encourage further investment. This chapter contains an interview with Sami Battikh, CEO, Office of Merchant Marine and Ports (OMMP).

Articles from this Chapter

Overview

Gearing up: Building on its reputation for stability, the country is in the midst of upgrading its infrastructure
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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 (water, electricity and gas) ranks strongly by regional standards, its transport-related infrastructure…

Analysis

Revitalising roads: The Road Transport Corridors Project is scheduled to come on-line
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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 times and vehicle operating costs, as well as improve road safety, along the corridors. The project…

Analysis

Exploring options: The already well-developed maritime infrastructure looks set to evolve further
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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 annually. Radès Port in La Goulette, Tunis is by far the country’s largest port, handling approximately…

Interview

Maritime synergies: OBG talks to Sami Battikh, CEO, Office of Merchant Marine and Ports (OMMP)
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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 under way to build a new container terminal with a vessel draught of 14 metres. This project takes into…