Tell us about yourself and how did you come to be National Hub?

I started my professional career at the European Commission Directorate-General for International Cooperation and Development in charge of preparing the reform plans of the different economic sectors and overseeing their realisation in the context of maintaining macroeconomic balances.

I contributed to the elaboration of the structural adjustment programme in 1986 whose objective was to reinforce these reforms towards more performance and encouragement to exportation. My engagement as a temporary teacher at the Tunis university, since 1983, has enriched this sectoral experience and reinforced our conviction to promote emerging sectors such as the knowledge economy, the aquaculture, cruises, etc…

My participation in 2013 as a regional coordinator to the European project “Integrated Maritime Policy” constituted the starting point of my work in the Blue Economy domain between the countries of southern shore of the Mediterranean, the central team of the project and the European Commission. This operation fostered the assessment of blue economy sectors in these countries, including Tunisia, and allowed us to exchange on other programs and projects considered, in coordination with the politics and goals of the European Commission in this domain. Made strong by this experience, I thus agreed to be member of the WestMED assistance mechanism, in order to pursue this project, which is part of Tunisia's priorities for the resilience of its economy.

How does the National Tunisian Hub support the blue economy?

The role of the National Hub is to coordinate the objectives of the WestMED project and the national programmes in the field of the blue economy in Tunisia, by associating the national and regional authorities, but also associations, companies and university researchers.

The contact with the national Coordinator and the National Commission on the Blue Economy is permanent, in the purpose of achieving the elaboration of the national strategy and its roadmap. The goal is to take advantage of all the activities related to the sea, while preserving ecological balances on a national level and ensuring cooperation, especially at the regional level.

The research of partners with the other national hubs are part of our priorities to achieve partnerships and form synergies between the Tunisian actors and their European and Maghrebian counterparts concerned by the WestMED project. The priority is to raise awareness among these stakeholders and associations on the fact that Tunisia can take advantage of all sectors of the sustainable blue economy.

How do you see the future of the blue economy in Tunisia?

Tunisia has many maritime assets, including more than 1300 km of coastline, nearly 95% of foreign trade transiting by the sea, an important infrastructure in commercial and fishing ports, a very active fishing fleet, a highly developed seaside activity, quite varied maritime and port professions and a fairly elaborate maritime regulatory framework based on international conventions for marine and maritime activities. With a maritime surface of ​​135,000 km2, or nearly 80% of the country's territory, Tunisia has a large reservoir of activities and jobs that can be exploited. The sustainable development and exploitation of this maritime space constitute an opportunity for technological innovation, trainings and a source of smart, sustainable and inclusive growth. The blue growth gives a new vision on the riches of the sea and the development prospects of traditional sectors such as maritime transport and port activities, shipbuilding, tourism and fishing. The knowledge of the maritime and marine environment allows the development of promising sectors in terms of innovation and the creation of highly skilled jobs such as biotechnology, marine energy, deep seabed mining, aquaculture and cruise tourism.

However, it is important to reconcile the procedures to make the blue economy a vector of sustainable development on inclusive and sustainable bases. Thus, it matters to also keep an eye on the preservation of biodiversity and specific ecosystems, and to develop the maritime space planning.

Whether in Tunisia or via the WestMED initiative, the blue economy is therefore a chance and an opportunity to seize with attention.