Like other regions in the country, the governorate of Mahdia is preparing for the local elections scheduled for December 24, 2023. These elections will be held in its 13 delegations, covering 99 municipalities and 104 polling stations. Despite its significant economic potential, the region faces a poverty rate of around 25% and an unemployment rate of 11%, according to the Local Development Committee. The region has promising investment prospects and sectors that are eagerly awaiting policies and initiatives for the benefit of the population, especially in the areas of fishing, agriculture, tourism and crafts. Despite the presence of 5 industrial zones and 148 industrial companies, 96 of which are fully export-oriented, the region is home to several localities with high poverty rates and economic downturns that are among the most pronounced in the country. Fishing, a key activity in the region, involves 6,000 vessels and 8,600 fishermen in Mahdia, with an annual production of nearly 121,000 tonnes of fish. Although Mahdia boasts a unique dairy production system, with industrial centralisation, 26 collection centres and 40,000 farmers owning around 600 head of cattle, the high cost of production, including fodder costs, has become an obstacle to the growth of this industry. The steady increase in fodder costs from 2019 to 2022 has led many breeders to abandon their herds, while others have been forced to sell part of their herd to cover the cost of rearing. The region’s olive sector, however, stands in stark contrast to other economic aspects of the area. It has 5.7 million olive trees spread over 160,000 hectares (65% of the region’s plantations) and produces 100,000 tonnes of oil a year. This sector is one of the most important, providing around 2 million days of work during the harvesting season. Mahdia also has considerable tourism potential, with 29 hotel facilities and a wealth of historical and archaeological monuments and sites, such as the Roman Colosseum at El Jem and the Ottoman Tower of Mahdia. Accordingly, the residents are keen to intensify efforts to transform Mahdia into a premier tourist destination by diversifying the quantity and quality of offerings and developing attractive tourist itineraries, all based on appropriate planning. (TAP)- Like other regions in the country, the governorate of Mahdia is preparing for the local elections scheduled for December 24, 2023. These elections will be held in its 13 delegations, covering 99 municipalities and 104 polling stations. Despite its significant economic potential, the region faces a poverty rate of around 25% and an unemployment rate of 11%, according to the Local Development Committee. The region has promising investment prospects and sectors that are eagerly awaiting policies and initiatives for the benefit of the population, especially in the areas of fishing, agriculture, tourism and crafts. Despite the presence of 5 industrial zones and 148 industrial companies, 96 of which are fully export-oriented, the region is home to several localities with high poverty rates and economic downturns that are among the most pronounced in the country. Fishing, a key activity in the region, involves 6,000 vessels and 8,600 fishermen in Mahdia, with an annual production of nearly 121,000 tonnes of fish. Although Mahdia boasts a unique dairy production system, with industrial centralisation, 26 collection centres and 40,000 farmers owning around 600 head of cattle, the high cost of production, including fodder costs, has become an obstacle to the growth of this industry. The steady increase in fodder costs from 2019 to 2022 has led many breeders to abandon their herds, while others have been forced to sell part of their herd to cover the cost of rearing. The region’s olive sector, however, stands in stark contrast to other economic aspects of the area. It has 5.7 million olive trees spread over 160,000 hectares (65% of the region’s plantations) and produces 100,000 tonnes of oil a year. This sector is one of the most important, providing around 2 million days of work during the harvesting season. Mahdia also has considerable tourism potential, with 29 hotel facilities and a wealth of historical and archaeological monuments and sites, such as the Roman Colosseum at El Jem and the Ottoman Tower of Mahdia. Accordingly, the residents are keen to intensify efforts to transform Mahdia into a premier tourist destination by diversifying the quantity and quality of offerings and developing attractive tourist itineraries, all based on appropriate planning.
Source: Agence Tunis Afrique Presse