Head of State chairs extraordinary session of Kasserine Governorate Regional Council

As part of following up the economic and social development programmes in the various regions, President Zine el Abidine Ben Ali chaired, on Friday, an extraordinary session of the Kasserine Governorate's Regional Development Council.

CARTHAGE - As part of following up the economic and social development programmes in the various regions, President Zine el Abidine Ben Ali chaired, on Friday, an extraordinary session of the Kasserine Governorate's Regional Development Council.

The Council reviewed the evolution of  the region's development process and means likely to further improve the local inhabitants' living conditions.

At the opening of the extraordinary session, the President of the Republic delivered the following address:

"In the Name of God, the Merciful, the Compassionate
Ladies and Gentlemen,
The present session that we devote to examining the process of development in the Governorate of Kasserine falls in line with our concern to follow up the programmes of social-economic development in all regions of the country and to consolidate the attributes of decent life therein.

I take this occasion to convey my greetings to you and to all the citizens of this region, and to pay tribute to the inhabitants of Kasserine for their high sense of patriotism and their continuous determination to serve their region's development in all fields.

Ladies and Gentlemen,
Since the Change, we have endeavoured to consolidate the capacities of the regions, to accelerate the process of their growth and to mobilise their human potential, natural resources and economic specificities in the service of their inhabitants. We have also been keen on providing all the regions with infrastructures and collective equipments, educational, cultural and youth institutions, and job opportunities and sources of income.

Our country has managed to resist in the face of world fluctuations, which have generated acute economic crises and social troubles that have affected many countries of the world, as a result of the continuous rise in the prices of oil, raw materials and food products. We have, in fact, exerted all efforts to alleviate the negative effects of these changes on citizens, by exerting an additional subsidisation effort, and by further diversifying the mechanisms of solidarity and employment.

Convinced that local and regional development lies at the core of any sustainable and comprehensive development action, we will continue to examine the situation in all regions, and to provide care to their citizens in all fields, starting with the regions to which we have granted priority.

I am pleased to point out that in the Governorate of Kasserine, the volume of investments has, during the period between the 7th and 10th Development Plans, increased threefold, to reach 1.865 billion dinars. These investments have been focused on promoting the agricultural sector, mobilising 82% of the water resources available in the region and implementing a large number of projects, such as the integrated agricultural development project in the Oued Mellegue Valley and the neighbouring delegations. Our attention has also been focused on developing and numbering the internal road infrastructure, in order to improve links and communication among the cities and villages of the region, as well as on enlarging the educational, university, health, cultural, youth, sports infrastructure. We have also taken, on various occasions, special initiatives for the region, to consolidate its development gains and to improve the living conditions of its citizens in the various fields.

The rural electrification rate in the region has now reached 98%; the rates of connection to the drinking water network and to the sanitation network amount, respectively, to 95% and 75%.

On the other hand, we have endeavoured to encourage private investment in this Governorate and included all its delegations within the priority regional development delegations. This has enabled it to obtain the highest level of privileges, including the investment allowance which amounts to 30% of the project cost for new promoters. The region has also been provided with an investment and development company, and an office for the development of the Centre-West. This in addition to the development of industrial zones and irrigated zones, and the establishment of a "Business Centre" to provide guidance and support to young promoters, particularly the university graduates among them.

To consolidate these achievements, we have focused our attention, in the 11th Development Plan, on broadening the region's economic base, improving the performance of the agricultural sector and water resources, and further promoting quality of life in all fields, with investments amounting to 658 million dinars.

To enhance the region's natural specificities, we announce our decision to further increase irrigated zones, by providing 1,400 additional hectares for the development of new irrigated zones in all the delegations of the Governorate. This in addition to the projects included in the 11th Plan, which will bring the total irrigated area up from 24,000 to 27,000 hectares. Moreover,  11 deep wells have been equipped and electrified, and 18 new  wells and 6 exploratory drillings have been constructed, with total costs amounting to 20 million dinars.

To further promote the cattle-breeding sector, we give instructions for implementing a specific programme involving the promotion of  fodder and pastoral areas over 3,300 hectares, the development of fodder-stocking spaces, the maintenance of water stations, and the protection of cattle- breeders, with costs amounting to 5 million dinars.

On the other hand, to improve the performance of the soil and protect the region from erosion, we give instructions for preparing a programme to fight erosion in the overflows of Oued Hatab and High Mellegue, with costs amounting to 10 million dinars.

To promote integrated development, achieve balance among all the regions of the Governorate and facilitate the integration of rural areas within the economic cycle, we give instructions for implementing four integrated development projects with total costs amounting to 20 million dinars, consolidating the integrated agricultural development project with 4 million dinars, launching the study of the second phase of the project for improving the management of natural resources, which involves the implementation of water and soil conservation and forest development works, promoting vegetal production and improving the inhabitants' living conditions.

To promote investment and accelerate the job creation process, we announce our decision to enlarge the industrial zone in Kasserine over 10 hectares, to connect the region's industrial zones through optical fibres extending over 18 kilometres, to create a real-estate potential to be developed according to the need and the demand and to connect a number of cities to the natural gas network, with a cost exceeding 10 million dinars. We also announce our decision to connect the industrial zone in Kasserine to the national sanitation network, with a cost exceeding one million dinars. This in addition to establishing three industrial spaces covering 6,000 square metres, with a cost amounting to 3 million dinars, and a programme of action for the development of additional spaces in case of need.

To integrate the region in its economic environment and connect production sites to the great urban poles, we have provided this Governorate, under the 11th Plan, with a series of infrastructure projects, by developing and consolidating 128 kilometres of roads, and asphalting 316 kilometres of rural tracks, while integrating the region's archeological and environmental sites within tourist routes. In this context, we announce our decision to develop the national park of Chaambi and the archeological city of Hidra.

As regards the consolidation of the health, cultural and youth sectors, we point out that the 11th Development Plan provides for numerous establishments, facilities and equipments distributed over all delegations.

To further enrich sports and health projects in the region, we give instructions for enlarging the in-take capacity of the Kasserine sports complex with 4,500 additional seats. We also give instructions for renewing the Thala hospital and for establishing a dialysis unit and a basic healthcare centre in Ezzouhour delegation.

Concerning the improvement of the living conditions of the region's inhabitants, and in addition to the relevant projects included in the 11th Plan, we give instructions for implementing a set of urgent additional projects for 880 families, with particular focus on the provision of drinking water and electricity to over 250 families, with a total cost exceeding 3 million dinars.

Keen on promoting quality of life and on preserving the environment and the ecosystem, we give instructions for developing a park for the families living in Oued Darb, with a cost amounting to 2 million dinars, implementing a programme to reduce the pollution caused by the Kasserine Cellulose Factory, with a cost amounting to 6 million dinars, and constructing a controlled waste dump, along with a centre for waste transformation in Kasserine, with a cost amounting to 5 million dinars.

Employment remains one of the greatest challenges we have to meet, by further diversifying the initiatives, programmes and mechanisms we establish for this purpose, and by strengthening co-operation and complementarity between the State and the private sector in consolidating intervention at the local and regional level. It is, in fact, necessary to promote development by all the available means in municipal and rural areas, to take into consideration the natural, economic and ecological potential of the region, to assure the farmers' settlement in their regions, to promote handicrafts and small crafts, to enhance social progress and to improve quality of life in all regions.

We are faithful to the commitment we took on the 50th anniversary of Independence, to increase the per capita income and reduce the unemployment rate.

Ladies and Gentlemen,
Development action is a daily effort that involves all Tunisian men and women. It is an action based on the joined and complementary efforts of the public and private sectors, with all individuals, social categories and regions benefiting from its fruits.

Given our limited national resources, the fierce international competition and the continuous rise of the prices of food products and basic materials, we have no other path but to rely on our own capacities and to step up action, in order to overcome difficulties, meet challenges, and ensure invulnerability and prosperity for our people and our country."

TAP