
Enfidha deepwater port project off drawing board
Reaffirming the state's commitment to this strategic project, while safeguarding national sovereignty and considering economic and social factors, Minister Amri emphasized that the port will mark a major qualitative leap for Tunisia.
The first next-generation port will adhere to international standards in quality, safety, and environmental sustainability in maritime transport, while also enhancing port infrastructure.
He highlighted the project's potential to leverage Tunisia's regional geographic positioning as a gateway to Africa, boosting competitiveness through synergy with other Tunisian commercial ports to ensure operational efficiency and profitability.
Following a presentation on the port and logistics zone components, the minister called for preparing a comprehensive dossier covering practical measures—including land and regulatory aspects—to ensure smooth execution within the defined timeline.
Enfidha Deepwater Port: An 11-Year Delay
The project, delayed for 11 years, is managed by the state-owned Enfidha Port Company, responsible for its completion, development, and maintenance, as well as coordinating related transport infrastructure projects and conducting feasibility studies.
Once operational, the port is expected to handle 4.8 million 20-foot containers, creating 52,000 direct and indirect jobs.
Designed to meet international quality, safety, and environmental standards, it will position Tunisia as a key East-West transport hub, cutting delivery times by up to 10 days and reducing costs by 15%, while attracting transshipment traffic in the Central and Western Mediterranean.
Project Phases and Timelines
The port is slated for completion in two phases by 2030:
– Phase 1 (3 years, starting 2023): Development of the 1,000-hectare port area, including 1,200 meters of docks and an accelerated 560-meter solid bulk terminal (capacity: 4 million tons).
– Phase 2 (5 years): Expansion to 2,000 hectares for economic and logistics services, plus the remaining 800 meters of docks.
The total cost for Phase 1 is estimated at $1.04 billion, funded 75% by the public sector and 25% by private investment.

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


African Manager
6 days ago
- African Manager
Tunisia's exports to Canadian market estimated at 300 million dinars
Mohsen Abidi, Vice President of the Tunisian-Canadian Business Network (RTCA), stated that Canada is home to over 40,000 Tunisians, in addition to thousands of Tunisian students enrolled in various Canadian universities. During his appearance on the Expresso show, Abidi emphasized the importance of leveraging this strong Tunisian presence in Canada, describing it as a strategic asset that could serve as a foundation for expanding into the promising Canadian market across multiple sectors. He added that the Tunisian diaspora plays a key role in investment, both in Canada and Tunisia, noting that the African continent holds a strategic position in Canada's vision. Thanks to its geographical location, Tunisia could act as a gateway to African markets. The RTCA Vice President explained that the network is working to strengthen the role of the Tunisian diaspora in boosting economic and investment relations between the two countries by actively participating in major economic and scientific events held in Canada. He highlighted the importance of the direct air route between Tunisia and Canada, calling it a strategic lever to increase Tunisian exports to the Canadian market, currently estimated at around 300 million dinars. This figure could easily be multiplied by five if cooperation were expanded to high-potential sectors like startups and alternative energy, rather than being limited to the agri-food industry.


African Manager
6 days ago
- African Manager
Crafts sector: €15,000 support for Diaspora-led businesses
Around ten Tunisian diaspora businesses operating in the crafts sector will benefit from technical and financial support of up to €15,000 per company under the 'Creative Tunisia 2.0' program, implemented by the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO). The beneficiaries will be selected following a second call for project proposals, recently launched. The deadline for submissions is set for July 31, 2025, according to 'Creative Tunisia.' This call aims to strengthen the presence of Tunisian handicrafts in international markets by leveraging the economic potential of Tunisians living abroad. To this end, UNIDO is offering a technical and financial support plan to assist these businesses in enhancing their impact on the global marketing of artisanal products. The proposed projects must contribute to increasing the visibility of Tunisian handicrafts in international markets, boosting exports by supporting both online and physical sales platforms, fostering synergies between the Tunisian diaspora and local crafts sector stakeholders and supporting the economic integration of vulnerable communities and returning Tunisians through handicrafts. Selected projects will be implemented in the countries of residence or operation of the diaspora-led businesses over 12 months. With a total budget of €300,000, Creative Tunisia 2.0 (2024–2027) aims to support around 20 internationally established businesses, while improving the socio-economic protection and integration of groups most vulnerable to risks linked to irregular migration in Tunisia. The program seeks to generate employment opportunities in the crafts sector by leveraging the expertise and networks of the Tunisian diaspora.


Babnet
14-07-2025
- Babnet
Strengthening U.S.-Tunisian Economic Ties: High-Level Meeting Between UTICA and American Delegation Focuses on Investment, Trade, and Strategic Partnerships
Mr. Samir Majoul, President of the Tunisian Union of Industry, Trade, and Handicrafts (UTICA), received on Friday, July 11, 2025, at the organization's headquarters in the capital, Mr. Joey Hood, Ambassador of the United States of America to Tunisia, and Mr. David Hamod, President of the National U.S.-Arab Chamber of Commerce (NUSACC), in the presence of several members of UTICA's national executive board, senior officials of the Union, representatives of various economic sectors, and the President of the American Chamber of Commerce in Tunisia. During the meeting, both parties reviewed the long-standing economic relations between Tunisia and the United States, stressing the importance of building an economic partnership that serves mutual interests and benefits both countries. Mr. Samir Majoul reaffirmed Tunisia's ongoing efforts on all fronts to become an ideal destination for both national and foreign investment, and its ambition to establish international partnerships and strategic projects in various key sectors. These include energy and particularly renewable energy, due to its potential to drive sustainable development, as well as promising sectors such as sustainable agriculture, agribusiness, information and communication technologies, the digital economy, higher education, scientific research, healthcare, pharmaceuticals, handicrafts, textiles, logistics, and mechanical and electrical industries. These sectors, he emphasized, have high export potential and the capacity to create jobs. He highlighted UTICA's commitment to strengthening U.S. investments and expanding trade cooperation with the United States toward Africa, the Arab world, and Europe. Mr. Majoul also underscored the high quality of Tunisian products such as olive oil and dates, as well as their unique health and environmental benefits. He stated that Tunisian olive oil, thanks to the diversity of its varieties and the richness of its soil and climate, is a high-quality natural product that contributes to carbon absorption, making it supportive of healthy diets and environmental sustainability. He warned that imposing customs duties on Tunisian exports to the U.S. market—such as olive oil, dates, textiles, and handicrafts—would negatively affect Tunisian exporters and American consumers alike, as these tariffs would drive up product prices. Mr. Majoul stressed the importance of developing U.S.-Tunisian partnerships based on trust and mutual interests, leveraging Tunisia's strategic location and its network of trade agreements. He noted that several promising sectors are ready to attract new investments and called for taking advantage of the complementarity between American expertise and Tunisian capabilities to develop joint projects, including those targeting third markets in Africa, Europe, and the Arab world. For his part, U.S. Ambassador Joey Hood affirmed the two countries share a common history that serves as a solid foundation for future relations. He emphasized the existence of numerous opportunities that require joint efforts, and acknowledged current challenges such as the trade deficit and customs duties imposed on Tunisian exports. He called for continued collaboration and the development of practical strategies to address these issues. Mr. David Hamod, President of the National U.S.-Arab Chamber of Commerce, highlighted that the U.S. market is not a single market but rather 50 diverse markets across 50 U.S. states, which necessitates greater marketing efforts to introduce American consumers to the variety of Tunisian products. He called for better exploitation of these trade opportunities. The meeting also reaffirmed the importance of American investment in Tunisia and the mutual desire to encourage U.S. investment in Tunisia, as well as enhance Tunisian investment opportunities in the U.S. market. UTICA representatives presented the diversity of Tunisia's industrial fabric, the competitiveness and excellence of its sectors, the efficiency of its human resources, and its openness to innovation and technology. They emphasized Tunisia's ability to integrate into global value chains and highlighted the evolution and expansion of Tunisian startups toward the U.S. market. They also discussed the possibility of moving toward targeted bilateral agreements that focus on specific sectors and opportunities. The meeting concluded with a review of efforts by the American Chamber of Commerce in Tunisia to find solutions to the potential impact of tariffs on Tunisian exports, in coordination with UTICA, several universities, and professional chambers, along with the idea of organizing cultural days to promote awareness of the historical bilateral relations between Tunisia and the United States.