Tunisia: Sardinia-Jendouba Governorate cooperation set to start

Cagliari - The arrival in Cagliari of the delegation from the Maghreb region sets in motion the "decentralized cooperation" project for local development in Tunisia involving the Region of Sardinia and the Governorate of Jendouba. The meeting in the Sardinian capital is an important step in taking forward the partnership agreements promoted by the Italian Regions coordinated by Sardinia and which were the subject of a mission to Tunisia in 2016 led by President of the Sardinia Region, Francesco Pigliaru.

The Tunisian delegation, with representatives of institutions, organizations and trade associations, led by the General Secretary of the Governorate Tarek Ghodhbani, has a packed schedule lasting until July 9, with institutional meetings and visits to several Sardinian enterprises, mainly in the agricultural and agri-food sectors. The Tunisian missions activities were officially opened in Cagliari on July 3 by the Presidency of the Region represented by the Head of Cabinet Gianluca Serra. The details and goals of the initiatives were illustrated to the press on July 4 by the Councilor for General Affairs Filippo Spanu alongside Tarek Ghodhbani, Emilio Gariazzo, Mayor of Iglesias and President of Consorzio AUSI (Consortium for the promotion of academic activities of the Sulcis-Iglesiente), Salvatore Cherchi, coordinator of Piano Sulcis, Giovanna Medde, Director of the Service for international, EU, national and regional relations of the Directorate-General of the Presidency, and Anna Catte, Director of the Managing Authority of the European Programme ENI CBC Med 2014 -2020, who spoke about the forthcoming call for proposals.

"The cooperation project between the Sardinia Region and the Jendouba Governorate," Councilor Spanu explained, "should be seen as part of President Pigliarus and the Regional Councils strategy of dialogue and openness towards the North African coast and Sub-Saharan Africa. We wish to be an island that is open to exchanges and relations with the potential to bring mutual benefits. In order to confront the epochal changes underway on the African continent and curb migration, it is essential to intensify relations that can generate positive spill-over effects in local areas." The Jendouba Governorate is located in the north-west of Tunisia, 150 kilometers from its capital Tunis. It has a population of 400,000 and an economy based on agricultural production. It shares a 135-kilometer border with Algeria to the east, and to the north it has a 25-kilometer coastline on the Mediterranean facing towards Europe.

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