Bidding for highway in Tunisia

Bidding is opening on a major new highway project in Tunisia. The country’s works ministry is launching an international call to tender for construction of the 180km highway linking Gabès, Médenine and Ras Jedir. Work is expected to last three years and will create 2,000 jobs. The project, which will be completed at the beginning of 2017, is expected to cost over US$631 million in total. The Gabès-Médenine stretch is expected to cost $ 347 million and will be financed by the Tunisian State and the Japanese International Cooperation Agency. The Médenine-Ras Jedir link is expected to cost $284 million and will be financed by the 1586 African Development Bank (AfDB). The deals reveal how Tunisia is resuming its economic operations after the ousting of the country’s previous regime and more contracts are expected in due course.