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Introduction |
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Located on the Northern coastline of the wider Tunisian Sahel region, the governorate of Sousse has a coastal line of 75 km along the Mediterranean shore. It is bounded by the governorates of Nabeul to the North, Zaghouan and Kairouan to the West and Mahdia to the South. Its climate is mild in both summer and winter because of its closeness to the sea. |
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Human resources |
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The Sousse governorate has a population of 605,000 (January 2010), which is highly urbanized (81%) and very dense. Its active labor force which totals 189,300 is mainly distributed in agriculture (5.9%), manufacturing industries (27.3%), services (53.3%) and the others sectors (13.4%). |
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Sousse has the country’s third university complex, coming after those of Tunis and Sfax, with 17 higher education institutions providing tuition to some 34,790 students enrolled in science, economics, arts, technology and computer engineering. These institutions are
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This governorate has 25 public and 119 private vocational training centers with a total capacity of 18,081 trainees in skills required by business companies, such as computer maintenance, industrial information technology, industrial electronics, commerce, apparel making, precision mechanics, electricity and plastics industry … | |
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Infrastructure |
The region’s infrastructure is modern and varied: |
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Major business activities |
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The industrial fabric boasts 567 local and foreign enterprises (providing 10 or more jobs), of which 333 are exclusively export-oriented, working mainly in textiles and clothing (35.6%), agri-food (15.1%), and the mechanical and electrical sector (15.6%). |
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There are also 302 firms with foreign equity holdings, operating in the sectors of tourism, industry, farming, and services. |
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A banking and financial services network is well established throughout the region, with 101 bank branches. |
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The Sousse governorate is Tunisia’s second tourist destination, with a diversified up-to-date infrastructure including varied and comfortable hotel units (98 hotels, with an accommodation capacity of 43,119 beds), attractive recreational facilities (a marina, a golf course, a seawater spa center, a casino), and two new tourist development zones (Hergla and Bouficha) with an overall accommodation capacity of over 20,000 beds. |
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Besides olive growing (there are 4 million olive trees), the Sousse governorate is also known for its pomegranates and cattle and sheep breeding. Besides, fishing is considered as a vital sector in the region. | |
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Investment opportunities |
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The region offers numerous investment opportunities in various sectors:
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plastics, electronics, mechanics, computer science, textiles and clothing |
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organic farming |
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fishing (oily fish) |
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projects related to tourism, recreation and seawater spa. | |
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Success stories |
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Draxlmaier (automotive components), Leoni AG (automotive components), KBE Elektrotechnik (automotive components), Heinrich Kopp (electrical industry), IDUNA (textiles and garments), General Electric (electrical industry), Pirelli (automotive components), Uniland (building materials), Van de velde (textile industry), Cair (pharmaceutical industry), Dermugër (electrical industry), Vigemotor (mechanical industry). |
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Useful addresses |
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CGDR Regional Development Authority (Commissariat Général au Développement Régional) DDR-Sousse Regional Development Office (Direction du Développement Régional de Sousse) Siège du gouvernorat, Sousse-Tunisie Tel / Fax : (216) 73 232 399 E-mail: cgdr@mdci.gov.tn Web: www.cgdr.nat.tn
APII Agency for the Promotion of Industrial and Innovation (Agence de Promotion de l’Industrie et de l'Innovation) Av. du rabat, BP 144- 4000 Sousse Tel : (216) 73 222 404 Fax : (216) 73 227 809 E-mail : api@api.com.tn
APIA Agricultural Investment Promotion Agency (Agence de Promotion des Investissements Agricoles) Rue 22 janvier 1952, 4000 Sousse Tel : (216) 73 229 090 Fax : (216) 73 229 090 E-mail : Prom.Agri@apia.com.tn
Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Centre (Chambre de Commerce et de l’Industrie de Sousse) Rue Khaznadar, 4000 Sousse Tel : (216) 73 225 044 Fax : (216) 73 224 227
UTICA Employers' Federation for Industry, Commerce and Crafts (Union Tunisienne de l’Industrie, du Commerce et de l’Artisanat) Rue Khaznadar, 4000 Sousse Tel : (216) 73 224 111 Fax : (216) 73 225 468
CEPEX Export Promotion Centre (Centre de Promotion des Exportations) Rue A. Dumas, 4000 Sousse Tel : (216) 73 228 842 Fax : (216) 73 228 843 E-mail : cepex.disi@cepex.org.tn | | |
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