Tunisia is accelerating the development of its port infrastructure with strategic projects such as the deep-water port of Enfidha, aiming to strengthen its position as a regional hub in the Mediterranean. These initiatives address the challenges of congestion and obsolescence at existing ports, which handle 98% of the country’s foreign trade.

Context of Current Tunisian Ports

Major ports such as Radès, La Goulette, Sfax, and Bizerte suffer from aging infrastructure and chronic delays, impacting their international competitiveness. Radès, which handles 61% of container traffic, is seeing some of its activity shift to Sfax and Sousse due to these inefficiencies. Modernization is essential to optimize management and attract foreign investment.

The flagship Enfidha project

The deep-water port of Enfidha, relaunched in March 2025 under the leadership of Minister Rachid Amri, will have a depth of 20 meters to accommodate the world’s largest container ships. Accompanied by a 3,000-hectare logistics platform, it positions Tunisia as a gateway between Europe and Africa, complementing other ports. The project, a priority for streamlining supply chains and relieving congestion in Radès, is moving towards its launch phase.

Economic and strategic stakes

These new ports boost maritime trade, employment, and national sovereignty while respecting international safety and environmental standards. They are part of a broader vision that includes public-private partnerships and technologies such as AI for a sustainable blue economy. Tunisia thus aims to transform its geographical advantages into drivers of regional growth.

Environmental Challenges

New port projects in Tunisia, such as the one in Enfidha, raise major environmental challenges related to deep-water construction and the expansion of logistics zones, including the risk of disruption to marine ecosystems, water pollution from dredging discharges, and industrial emissions.

The potential loss of coastal biodiversity, soil erosion, and ocean acidification due to port activities necessitate strict adherence to international environmental safety standards to preserve aquatic habitats and minimize the impact on marine wildlife.

Furthermore, the integration of green technologies and public-private partnerships will help promote a sustainable blue economy, balancing economic growth with the protection of Mediterranean natural resources.