On the occasion of the Tunisia Investment Forum (TIF 2024) held in Tunis on June 12 and 13, Minister of the Economy and Planning, Feryel Ouerghi Sebai and Vice-President of the European Investment Bank (EIB) responsible for financing in North Africa Ioannis Tsakiris, signed a EUR 210 million (around 707 million dinars) finance contract for the upgrading of the RN13 road between Sfax and Kasserine.
This financing demonstrates the EIB’s strong commitment to supporting Tunisia’s National Transport Plan 2040, which aims to improve regional connectivity and stimulate economic development in disadvantaged areas.
The project, which extends over 180 km to the Algerian border and is being implemented by the Tunisian Ministry of Public Works and Housing, will upgrade the existing infrastructure from 2×1 lanes to 2×2 lanes with the addition of median barriers.
The project promises greater social inclusion, improved accessibility and easier mobility for the local population, including the most vulnerable communities.
Benefits will also include time savings, reduced operating costs and a significant reduction in road accidents, with improvements in comfort, availability and speed of services.
The modernization of this corridor is a catalyst for significant socio-economic growth, reducing regional disparities and promoting regional integration.
It will open new trade routes with Algeria and Libya, stimulating economic dynamism and investment in disadvantaged regions.
Backed by a European Union guarantee, the project is fully in line with the EU’s strategic priorities under the new Agenda for the Mediterranean and Axis 2 of the Europe Team Initiative on Investment in Tunisia, which focuses on improving Tunisia’s economic infrastructure.
In line with the Paris Agreement, the project meets the EIB’s standards for sustainable transport and the Bank’s criteria for environmental sustainability and resilience.
The project is being implemented in close cooperation with the World Bank, which is providing parallel financing and rigorous technical supervision. It is in line with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
With this ambitious project, the EIB and its partners are not just modernizing a road, but paving the way for a more connected, inclusive and prosperous future for Tunisia.
