Tunisia to Invest $130 Million in Air Transport

A general view shows Tunis-Carthage International Airport in Tunis, Tunisia, July 30, 2018. REUTERS/Zoubeir Souissi
A general view shows Tunis-Carthage International Airport in Tunis, Tunisia, July 30, 2018. REUTERS/Zoubeir Souissi
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Tunisia to Invest $130 Million in Air Transport

A general view shows Tunis-Carthage International Airport in Tunis, Tunisia, July 30, 2018. REUTERS/Zoubeir Souissi
A general view shows Tunis-Carthage International Airport in Tunis, Tunisia, July 30, 2018. REUTERS/Zoubeir Souissi

Tunisian authorities are planning on announcing TND367 million ($131 million) worth of investments to expand three airports in the country.

Carthage International Airport in the capital Tunis is to get the lion’s share of around TND300 million ($100 million) so that it can handle around 8 million passengers a year.

The runways of Djerba - Zarzis International Airport in southeastern Tunisia and Tozeur - Nefta International Airport in the southwest are also set to be improved in 2020.

Flag carrier Tunisair has plans to improve its fleet by signing a final deal to buy five new Airbus A320 airplanes.

It is also expected to lease three planes pending the arrival of the new A320s.

The moves will allow Tunisair to expand the number of its passengers to 5 million.

The fleet of the flag carrier consists of 27 planes. It also has a workforce of around 8,000 employees.

The government has tried to cut the number of staff in an effort to limit economic the company's burdens. But labor unions have rejected efforts to restructure Tunisair.

The transportation sector contributes 7 percent of the country’s GDP and around 11.5 percent of total investments. It also brings revenues of around TND1.5 billion from hard currency.

But it suffers around TND4 billion in losses, which require urgent government plans for reforms and restructuring.



Aramco Inaugurates Regional Center for Sustainable Fishery Development on Abu Ali Island

tthe inauguration of the regional center for sustainable fishery development, Arabian Gulf branch, was made in cooperation with the Ministry of Energy and the Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture. Aramco
tthe inauguration of the regional center for sustainable fishery development, Arabian Gulf branch, was made in cooperation with the Ministry of Energy and the Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture. Aramco
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Aramco Inaugurates Regional Center for Sustainable Fishery Development on Abu Ali Island

tthe inauguration of the regional center for sustainable fishery development, Arabian Gulf branch, was made in cooperation with the Ministry of Energy and the Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture. Aramco
tthe inauguration of the regional center for sustainable fishery development, Arabian Gulf branch, was made in cooperation with the Ministry of Energy and the Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture. Aramco

Saudi Aramco announced on Thursday the inauguration of the regional center for sustainable fishery development, Arabian Gulf branch, in cooperation with the Ministry of Energy and the Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture.

Through this collaboration, Saudi Aramco aims to highlight its investments in citizenship initiatives and its efforts to drive economic growth, support local fishermen and their livelihoods, build expertise, and adopt the best practices to enhance production and cultivate fish of marketable sizes that can compete globally.

The center is part of the company's broader efforts to protect marine life in the Arabian Gulf. It involves the establishment of a fish hatchery on Abu Ali Island in Jubail, located on the Arabian Gulf coast, designed to produce local fish species that have experienced population declines due to fishing practices and to reintroduce them into Gulf waters.

The center's operations are designed to encompass the complete fish life cycle within designated tanks, from broodstock for egg production to larval rearing using plankton produced on-site and finally to the release of juvenile fish into the Arabian Gulf. The hatchery employs advanced aquaculture technologies to ensure fish health, and it utilizes top-tier water recycling techniques to enhance performance and meet the company's circular economy objectives.

The project aligns with Saudi Aramco's mangrove plantation initiative, under which more than 43 million trees have been planted to date. Mangrove forests provide vital nursery habitats for the juvenile fish released into the Gulf, further supporting the sustainability of marine ecosystems.