Tunisia is adopting an ambitious roadmap for the blue economy and a “plastic-free coasts” strategy. These initiatives, developed with the support of the World Bank, aim to preserve environmental balance and guarantee the social inclusion of coastal populations.
Leila Chikhaoui, Minister of the Environment, stressed during a launch seminar that this roadmap responds to a triple crisis: climate change, loss of biodiversity and pollution. “The blue economy and the ‘plastic-free coasts’ strategy are part of a wealth-creating economy approach, guaranteeing environmental balance and social inclusion of target populations,” she declared.
The operational roadmap establishes 11 priority investment areas, 31 long-term objectives and 35 priority actions. Key sectors include tourism (thermal and ecotourism), fishing and aquaculture, and the fight against plastic pollution.
The implementation of these actions will be financed by the State budget, as well as by the private sector and technical and financial partners. The Kerkennah ecological transition pilot project will serve as a model for the deployment of the roadmap.
Alexandre Arrobbio, resident representative of the World Bank in Tunisia, highlighted the strong potential of the blue economy for the country. “It already contributes 14% of GDP and employs 500,000 people, including 13% in the thermal tourism sector,” he said.
