Nabil Karoui, Director of the Commercial Port of Sfax, announced today that the General Directorate of the Merchant Marine and Ports Office is currently preparing a master plan for the reorganization of all commercial ports in Tunisia by 2040, including those in Sfax and Skhira. The goal is to restructure these infrastructures to align with economic developments and modern logistical requirements.
Speaking at a national conference titled « Current Realities and Future Perspectives of the Transport and Logistics Sector Amid Major Global Changes », Karoui explained that this project aims to assess the current situation while proposing solutions to modernize and strengthen the capacity of the ports. This approach takes into account national economic demands and the vital role ports play in both regional and national development.
Karoui emphasized that all Tunisian ports play a key role in providing quality services for cargo and vessels, which boosts economic performance and supports the country’s logistics activities. The overarching aim is to continue improving the quality of port services, which will have a direct positive impact on Tunisia’s economy.
The conference, organized by the Professional Group for Transport and Logistics under the Confederation of Citizen Enterprises of Tunisia (CONECT), covered various topics including land, sea, air transport, and logistics. Special emphasis was placed on the maritime sector, which is undergoing significant transformation, and the urgent need to modernize port professions to meet new challenges—especially digitalization and enhanced port security.
In parallel, Malek Aloui, spokesperson for the Professional Group for Transport and Logistics, announced that two partnership agreements will be signed during the conference between CONECT, the Higher Institute of Technological Studies of Sfax, and the Vocational Training Center of Sidi Mansour. These agreements aim to develop training programs tailored to business needs and to create new high-employability specialties. This initiative is intended to help young people integrate more easily into the labor market.
Aloui also highlighted that current regulations in the sector—some of which have been in force for over 20 years—require a comprehensive review. This revision will affect technical specifications and sectoral laws, to bring them in line with current industry needs.
Following the conference, workshops will be held in the regions of Sfax, Sousse, and Tunis to identify the challenges faced by professionals and propose concrete solutions. These workshops will gather practical recommendations for improving the organization and management of the sector.
Additionally, a national commission within CONECT will be established to formulate reform proposals and submit them to public authorities as part of a public-private partnership. This initiative aims to enhance the efficiency of the logistics sector, develop new professional skills, and implement laws tailored to the real needs of stakeholders in the field.
