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Chambre de Commerce et d'Industrie de Sfax

Sfax, the capital of the south

Sfax, the capital of the south

The governorate of Sfax is located in central-eastern Tunisia, a privileged geographical location between the Center and the South of the country, with a wide opening onto the sea and a coastline of almost 235 km, which gives it a prominent role in the exchanges of products at national and international level.

Sfax is at the heart of the economic development of the region and of Tunisia

The region of Sfax is known for its entrepreneurial spirit, its economic dynamism and its agricultural and energy production, the region of Sfax constitutes the 2nd pole of activity in Tunisia after the capital Tunis.

Its privileged geographical position, its wide openness to the sea (with a coastline of nearly 235 kilometers) and its port give it an important role in trade at national and international level.

Administratively, the governorate is divided into 16 municipalities, 16 delegations and 126 sub-delegations.

7569 km²

Surface (5% of the national territory)

250 mm/year

Annual rainfall

1 000 880

inhabitants (janvier 2019)

144 inhab/km2

Density

The economic boost

The development of Sfax, whether economic, urban or demographic, has become spectacular since independence materialized in 1956.

 

First producer of olive oil, first fishing port, second industrial pole, producer of energy, oil and gas, the city of Sfax represents a beautiful image of Tunisian economic development.

 

Its population, exceeding 1 million inhabitants, represents 5% of the national population, thus positioning itself just after the capital in demographic terms.

Craft activities multiplied, fishing production developed and fields of fruit trees and olive trees reappeared in the form of a green periphery. Its trade with the Levant became the pivot of all its trade activities with the rest of Tunisia, Africa and the West through Marseilles, Genoa and Livorno.

From that time until today, it has gone from being a small town to being the second largest city in the country.

Since the 19th century, under the effect of European colonial expansionism, the economy of Sfax has suffered the weight of industrial domination. A modern port built at the end of the 19th century allowed Sfax to access the transatlantic lines and to diversify its trade.