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Introduction |
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The governorate of Sfax holds a privileged geographic position between central and southern Tunisia, with a wide opening onto the Mediterranean: 200 km of coastline.
It is surrounded by the governorates of Mahdia to the North, Gabès to the South and Kairouan and Sidi Bouzid to the West. |
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Human resources |
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Its population is estimated at 900,500 (January 2008), 64.2% of which are urbanized. The population density (116 people/sq. km) is higher than the national average. Its active labor force, renowned for its entrepreneurship, is estimated at 251,900 most of which is distributed over agriculture and fishing (14%), services (45.0%), and manufacturing (27.8%). |
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Sfax is also a major university center: 20 higher education institutions, 44,000 students enrolled in various subject (science, technology, IT, arts and engineering), in addition to two business incubators fostering the dissemination of entrepreneurship and business expertise among students and graduates. These institutions are
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This governorate also has a network of 9 state and private vocational training centers with a total capacity of 3,975 trainees. These centers offer instruction in skills related to electronics, clothing and dressmaking, mechanics and construction. Sfax Technology ParkThe park is devoted to computerization and multimedia. A number of institutions and a research center specializing in computerization and multimedia offer training and research activities. | |
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Major business activities |
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The governorate of Sfax is a major industrial center (second only to the Tunis region) which is expanding steadily. It shelters:
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2,300 manufacturing companies, employing 59,000 people |
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661 industrial enterprises (providing 10 or more jobs), providing jobs for 37,659 people and 160 of these enterprises are export-oriented. Their distribution by branch of activity shows a dominance of textiles and clothing (26.6%), agri food (20.6%), mechanical industries (14.2%) and chemical industries (11%). The remainder is taken up by leather and footwear, wood industries, electrical and electronic industries, and miscellaneous industries. |
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there are also 84 firms with foreign equity holdings, operating in the sectors of industry, tourism, farming and services. | |
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The governorate further boasts a fairly dense banking and financial services network, with 105 bank branches and 5 private leasing firms. |
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Commerce is a thriving activity: around 20,421 retailers, 803 wholesalers and 72 private import/export firms. |
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The governorate is known for its agricultural potential (particularly olive and almond growing). Indeed, it is the major national producer and accounts for 40% of olive oil output and 30% of almond output. |
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The poultry and dairy sectors are growing steadily: the region produces 50% of laying hens, 15% of broilers and an annual average of 75 million liters of milk. |
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Fishing is a strategic activity for the local economy and the port infrastructure is up-to-date: 8 fishing ports provide 20,000 tonnes, ie 20% of national production, of which 10,000 tonnes are exported, representing 65% of national exports of seafood. |
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The Sfax governorate is an essential energy provider for the national economy with its underground onshore and offshore oilfields (1.1 million tonnes) and natural gas fields (4.5 million cubic metres/day). | |
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Investment opportunities |
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The region’s economy offers a wide range of niches in many branches of activity, including
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Organic farming. |
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Aquaculture. |
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Flower growing. |
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Heifer breeding. |
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Meat processing, dairy and poultry products. |
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Cultural, family and environmental tourism, particularly in the Kerkennah islands. | |
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Success stories |
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Henkel, Versus, Accor. |
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Useful addresses |
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CGDR
Regional Development Authority
(Commissariat Général au Développement Régional)
(DDR-SFax)
Regional Development Office
(Direction du Développement Régional de SFax)
Siège du gouvernorat, 3000 Sfax-Tunisie
Tel/ Fax : (216) 74 402 905
E-mail: cgdr@mdci.gov.tn
Web: www.cgdr.nat.tn
API
Industrial Promotion Agency
(Agence de Promotion de l’Industrie)
1 rue de Béja, 3000 Sfax-Tunisie
Tel : (216) 74 224 370
Fax : (216) 74 210 704
E-mail : api@api.com.tn
APIA
Agricultural Investment Promotion Agency
(Agence de Promotion des Investissements Agricoles)
72 rue de kairouan, 3000 Sfax-Tunisie
Tel : (216) 74 226 035
Fax : (216) 74 210 057
Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Centre
(Chambre de Commerce et de l'Industrie de SFax)
10 rue Tahar Sfar, BP794, 3018 Sfax-Tunisie
Tel : (216) 74 296 120
Fax : (216) 74 296 121
E-mail : cci@cci.org.tn
CEPEX
Export Promotion Centre
(Centre de Promotion des Exportations)
1 rue de Béja, 3000 Sfax-Tunisie
Tel : (216) 74 228 519
Fax : (216) 74 228 519
E-mail : cepex.disi@cepex.org.tn
UTICA
Employers' Federation for Industry, Commerce and Crafts
(Union Tunisienne de l’Industrie, du Commerce et de l’Artisanat)
Av H.Bourguiba, 3000 Sfax-Tunisie
Tel : (216) 74 210 031
Fax : (216) 74 210 730
E-mail : ur.sfax@utica.org.tn
COTUNACE
Tunisian Export Trade Insurance Company
(Compagnie Tunisienne pour l’Assurance du Commerce Extérieu)
1 rue de Béja, 3000 Sfax-Tunisie
Tel : (216) 74 221 004
Fax : (216) 74 225 101 | | |
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