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Why Sfax ?

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A Pool of exprtise

The region of Sfax has a highly developed school, university and vocational training systems.

Indeed, the governorate is the second largest university center in the country after Tunis with 20 higher education institutions hosting about 43,000 students in various disciplines (science, economy, arts, technology and computer engineering) and two business incubators promoting the dissemination of entrepreneurship and business to students and graduates. These institutions are:

These institutions are :

The governorate also has a network of public and private vocational training centers composed of 21 public centers and 40 private centers with a total capacity of 8,700 training positions. These centers offer specialized training programs in the fields of electronics, clothing and sewing, mechanics and construction.

A good transport service

Located in the center of the country with a large opening on the Mediterranean Sea with a coastline of about 235 km2, the governorate of Sfax plays a predominant role in the exchange of goods at both national and international levels. This is facilitated by the existence of a modern and developed basic infrastructure :

  • Sfax is served by the Sfax-Thyna International Airport that provides national and international regular scheduled flights as well as freight transport.

  • An important Commercial port ranked second at the national level.

  • A Tunis-Sousse-Sfax highway connects the governorate to the largest cities.

  • A network of roads connects the region to neighboring governorates.

  • A railway connects Sfax with the main cities of the country.

  • A Technopole devoted to computer and multimedia. Training and scientific research programs are provided by several institutes and a research center specializing in IT and multimedia.

  • Several Industrial Zones are available and equipped to house new projects.

The Second Economic Center of Tunisia

The economic fabric of the governorate is characterized by its diversity and dynamism. Indeed, although it is mainly based on olive oil, fishing and processing of phosphates, the economy of the Governorate of Sfax has been experiencing since the sixties significant economic changes with the proliferation of small and medium manufacturing industries, the rapid development of the tertiary sector and the diversification of the agricultural sector with the emergence of new areas of investment such as cattle breeding, market gardening, poultry and organic farming.

Nevertheless, the governorate remains renowned for its agricultural potential (the utilized agricultural area represents 90 % of the total area), especially olive and almond cultivation. Indeed, Sfax is the first producer at the national level with 40 % of olive oil production and 30 % of almond production.

The sectors of agriculture and dairy production are also developing with 50 % of the national production of laying hens, 15 % of the national production of broilers and an average annual milk production of about 85 million liters..

Fishing is also a strategic activity for the local economy thanks to the existence of an adequate port infrastructure: 8 fishing ports providing more than 20 % of the national production of seafood :

8 ports de pêche procurant plus de 20 % de la production nationale des produits de la mer.

Second Industrial Pole of Tunisia, the governorate of Sfax has 2,300 manufacturing companies employing 59,000 people. The number of industrial firms (with a workforce of 10 or more employees) totaled 700 units, 165 of which are exporting firms; their distribution shows a dominance of textiles and clothing (26.6 %), food industry (20.6 %), mechanical engineering (14.2 %) and chemicals (11 %). The rest is divided between leather and footwear industries, wood industries, electrical and electronic industries and various other industries.

The governorate also has 116 foreign-invested enterprises operating in the sectors of industry, tourism, agriculture and services.

Sfax is also a key provider of energy for the national economy: the deposit of natural gas in Miskar covers a total area of 352 km ² with a capacity of 22.7 billion cubic meters. The annual operation is of around 1.18 million tons.

Sfax is also the second largest city in the tertiary sector. Its commercial activities have always been dynamic with more than 22,000 retailers, 1,330 wholesalers and 72 private import-export companies.

The governorate also features a developed banking and financial network consisting of 145 bank branches covering the whole territory of the region