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Introduction |
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Located in southeastern Tunisia, the governorate of Gabes has an area of 7166 square kilometers. Its eastern border is the Mediterranean Sea (with 80 kilometers of coastline), the governorate of Kebili is to the west, the governorate of Sfax to the northeast, the governorate of Gafsa to the northwest and the governorate of Medenine to the south. The region constitutes the centre of the country’s phosphate processing industries, producing phosphoric acid and triple superphosphate. |
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Infrastructure |
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The governorate of Gabes has the modern basic infrastructure it needs, which favors the development of private sector investment. This includes:
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135 kilometers of rails linking Gabes to Gafsa, Sfax, Sousse and Tunis, providing both passenger and freight transport. |
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A major commercial port that serviced 667 ships and 4.43 million tons of merchandise at 12 berths in 2006, as well as two fishing ports, one in Gabes and the other in Zarat (40 km away from Gabes). |
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2039 kilometers of roads and tracks, 989 kilometers of which are paved, most of this network being made up of major roads, namely the national road GP1 linking the country to Libya and the countries of the Middle East, an extension of the trans-Maghreb highway. Gabes is 365 km from the capital city of Tunis, 130 km from Sfax and 260 km from Sousse. . |
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Public sanitation is ensured by an integrated infrastructure run to a large extent by the private sector. |
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Three industrial zones cover 864 hectares, 250 hectares of which are operational at this time. |
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The Regional Production Pool of the South includes six big plants: a thermal power plant in Ghannouche and 5 gas turbines in Ghannouche, Bouchemma, Métlaoui, Robana (in Djerba) and Zarzis. |
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The electricity network almost covers practically the entire governorate, with regular supply of high and medium voltage electricity for industrial use. Household electrification rate in 2006 reached 99%. |
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There is a wide range of readily-accessible telecommunication products and services in the governorate: cell phones, text video, internet, X25 data transmission... | |
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Main economic activities |
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The region’s economy is mainly based on agriculture and industry:
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Gabes has 84 industrial companies with at least 10 employees, 20 of which totally exporting. Many of these units work in chemical industries and phosphates processing, building materials such as cement plants and brickyards as well as agro food industries. 16 companies are established in the governorate (in the category of 10 employees or more) owned by foreigners or with mixed capital, mainly working for manufacturing industries. |
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Quality agricultural and fishing activities are moving ahead on a sustainable basis and systematic upgrading are likely to lead to a promising future for the development of various crops, with average annual production currently at 275,000 tons for market garden crops, 56,850 tons for tree crops and 8,054 tons for seafood. |
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Animal production, mostly free range, is based on 184,000 head of sheep, 80,000 goats, 7613 head of cattle and 1400 camels, as well as 550,600 chickens and turkeys... |
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Geothermal greenhouse crops provide off-season produce for export: tomatoes, melons, peppers, cucumbers... | |
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In the banking sector, four retail banks have 28 branch offices and regional offices covering the region. | | |
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Investment opportunities |
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The region offers several investment opportunities
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Agriculture and fishing
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Geothermal greenhouse crops: Off-season production for export, with a significant quantity of as yet untapped soil and geothermal resources. |
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Organic agriculture, involving a range of products: pomegranates, dates, olives, both open field and greenhouse market garden produce, free range sheep breeding, goats, camels and bee keeping. Mountain areas, oases and public irrigated inland areas use traditional sustainable crop and agricultural practices, which augurs well for this activity. |
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Intensive cattle breeding: Gabes is a center for sustainable dairy activities that could lead to secondary processing activities. The fresh fodder to be found in the oases is a plus for the sector, enabling the introduction of new species such as geese, ostrich, turkey, quail, rabbits... |
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Aromatic and medicinal plants: High mountain ranges are home to a plethora of aromatic and medicinal plants that have not yet been exploited. |
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Fish Farming: appropriate sites and favorable weather conditions, with two sites likely to be developed to produce highly demanded noble fish for the local and foreign markets |
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Flower growing: Favorable weather, low costs for heating in winter (geothermal water resources). This activity has not yet been tried but it can be developed. | |
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Industries and services
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Tapping of useful substances found in the region, such as sand, clay, bentonite, the pink stone found in Gabes... |
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Processing of agricultural and fishing products: greater value added activities using agricultural and fishing production through canning, transformation, processing and cold storage. |
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Other services and processing industries: industrial activity related to chemical processing activities in Gabes and services related to the industrial sector in general; promoting the region’s young, educated and skilled manpower characterized by flexibility and ability to acquire know-how in textile, mechanical, electrical and electronic industries as well as computer and multimedia services. |
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Activities to support tourism: integration of tourism and leisure activities in the socio-economic life of the region: restaurants, promotion of handicraft goods, interactive museums... |
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Spa facilities: There is a significant level of potential resources that can still be developed. The quality and chemical composition of the water is a promising factor for the development of spas. The sites of Hlouga and El-Khebaiet in El-Hamma and Zarat in Mareth have been identified as potentially promising for setting up thermal stations to provide therapeutic care, leisure and fitness activities, and training for sports teams. |
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Seaside tourism: Integration of beach holidays with other attractive destinations, proposing itineraries that also take tourists to Tunisia’s mountains, oases, and desert, in the framework of the campaign now under way to promote new seaside sites. | | |
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Success stories |
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British Gaz (chemical industry), Ganz, Secil, Timab (production of phosphate) |
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Useful addresses |
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ODS
Authority for the Development of the South
(Office du Développement du Sud)
Immeuble- Ettanmia 4119 Medenine
Tel : (216) 75 640 363
Fax : (216) 75 641 747
E-mail : odsud@mdci.gov.tn
Web: www.ods.nat.tn
(DRD Gabès)
Office for Regional Development
(Direction Régionale de Développement)
Avenue Taha husseïn, premier étage
6000Gabès
Tel : (216) 75 270 733
E-mail : drd.gabes@mdci.gov.tn
API
Industrial Promotion Agency
(Agence de Promotion de l’Industrie)
18 rue El Maarifa, 6001 Gabès
Tel : (216) 75 272 855
Fax : (216) 75 272 855
E-mail : api@api.com.tn
APIA
Agricultural Investment Promotion Agency
(Agence de Promotion des Investissements Agricoles)
Av. Taha Hussein, Immeuble Hajji 3ème étage
6000 Gabès .
Tel : (216) 75 275 830
Fax : (216) 75 275 830
E-mail : Prom.Agri@apia.com.tn
UTICA
Employers' Federation for Industry, Commerce and Crafts
(Union Tunisienne de l’Industrie, du Commerce et de l’Artisanat)
15 Rue Ali Ben Khelifia Gabès
Tel : (216) 75 271 163
Fax : (216) 75 272 387
E-mail : ur.gabès@utica.org.tn
SODIS
Development and Investment Company for the South
(Société de Développement et d’Investissement du Sud)
Immeuble Ettanmia 4119 Médenine.
Tel : (216) 75 642 628
Fax : (216) 75 640 593
E-mail : sodis.sicartu@planet.tn
CCISE
Southeast Chamber of Commerce and Industry
(Chambre de Commerce et de l'Industrie du Sud-Est)
202 Avenue Farhat Hached Immeuble Hajji 2ème étage, 6000 Gabès
Tel : (216) 75 274 900
Fax : (216) 75 274 688
E-mail : ccise@gnet.tn
Car Gabès
Gabes Business Center
(Centre des affaires de Gabès)
202 Avenue Farhat Hached Immeuble Hajji 2ème étage, 6000 Gabès
Tel : (216) 75 272 288
Fax : (216) 75 278 614
E-mail : cargabes@topnet.tn
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