Why Siliana ?

The local economy of the region is mainly based on agriculture. Indeed the useful agricultural land estimated at 431,100 ha is divided between irrigated areas (16,700 ha), large grain areas to the north and small farms of tree, grain or forage in the center and the south based on ranching in mountains. Therefore, the governorate contributes to national agricultural production with an annual average of 4.7 % distributed between cereals (260.0 thousand tons), olives (52,000 tons), red meat (13 800 tons), milk (21,200 liters) and poultry (520 tons)..

The regional industry is characterized by three major segments :

• Food industry (bottling of mineral water bottle, manufacturing units of concentrated cattle feed, refrigeration units, oil mills...)

• Textiles (establishment of several foreign exporting companies in the region).

• Construction material industry with 5 marble quarries.

Indeed the governorate holds significant potential in quarry products including marble stone, clay, marl and industrial sand. It should be noted that foreign industrial groups have shown interest in geological sites of Jama (exploitation of raw materials for the manufacture of cement and clinker) and the sites of Sidi Brahim, Ain El Beidha and Kef Bouja proposed for the operation of raw materials for the manufacture of red products such as bricks, tiles and earthenware biscuits...

The industrial base of the region includes 280 active businesses employing 7,500 people. The region also includes 17 totally exporting companies and 19 industrial units with foreign participation (Italian, German and Japanese) operating in the sectors of industry, construction materials, textile, agro business and various industries.

The area is also known for its historic sites where experts identified 1,800 ones from the most distant prehistoric times to the Islamic era. The most famous historical attractions along the "Hannibalcircuit " are Zama (Siliana), Musti (Krib) Maktharis (Makthar), and other less picturesque names lying around Kesra, Bouarada and Bargou. Ain Dhab, the cradle of caving in Tunisia, represents one of the most renowned sites thanks to its natural state. Most cavers consider it as the most beautiful cave in the world. It should also be noted that over 80 % of the natural caves of Tunisia are in the Governorate of Siliana and precisely in Jbel Essarj and Jbel Kesra.

The local craft sector is composed of 20 units and a workforce of 4800 professional cards. The manufacture of traditional rugs is predominant with an annual production of about 3400 m².