In the beginning of Christianity, Gabes was the seat of an archiepiscopal and with the propagation of Islam the city became the second most important center of Islam after Kairouan. Ibn Khaldoun referred to Gabes as the “Capital of the Sea”, one of the most important in Ifriquia. In addition to its strategic geographic position as a Maghrebi city, Gabes has been renowned for centuries for its diversified natural sites, its grenadines, henna, shrimp…its 80 km of coastline and its Gulf famed as one of the most important and rich fishing grounds in the Mediterranean.

Geographic and demographic data

Area: 7,175 km² 
Population: 355,800
Demographic growth rate: 0.95 %
Urbanization rate: 68.4%
Working population: 117,635
School enrolment rate: 

• 6 to 12 years: 99.9% 
• 13 to 19 years: 82% 

Government Administration divisions

• Delegations: 10
• Municipalities: 10
• Rural Councils: 9
• Imadats: 73

Climate

• Average temperature: 20° C
• Annual rainfall: 190 mm /yr

Distance from the capital: 365 km

Wealth and  potential

Agriculture (in ha)

• Cultivated land: 597,000
• Irrigated zones: 14,000 

Livestock (heads)

• local bovine: 7,850 
• ovine: 184,000 
• goat: 80,000
• laying hens: 90,000
• Camel: 1,400

Main agricultural produce: (in tons/yr.)

• Fish: 8,700
• Meat: 8,720
• Milk: 30,000
• Oil crops: 17,000
• Vegetable farming: 210,000
• Cereal crops: 14,360
• Grenades: 25,000

Main products exported

• Chemical products: phosphorus acid, DAP, DCP, clinker, ammoniates, STPP, ammonium fluoride

• Construction materials: sand, white cement clinker, residuary sludge, marble, stone, tiles

• Diverse clothing and textile products

• Agricultural products: pomegranates, tomatoes, melons, cucumbers, peppers, apricots, sea food, henna.

Twinning

Gabes - Cote d'Armor (France) - since 1985

Community facilities

Education

• Elementary schools: 167
• Infant and child care: 115
• Secondary and High Schools: 60
• Superior Institutes: 12

Health care

• Regional hospital: 1 
• Basic health care centers: 92
• Clinics: 5
• Analysis and radiology laboratories: 16
• Pharmacies: 63
• 1 Doctor per 1,458 inhabitants

Culture

• Libraries: 22
• Cinemas: 1
• Theaters: 3
• Archeological museums: 2
• Cultural centers: 7 
• Main festival: 4

Tourism and leisure time activities

• Hotels: 19
• Beaches: 85 km of coastline
• Travel agency: 6
• Tourist restaurant: 4
• Artisan (regional specialties): Mergoum carpets, basketwork.

Professional Training

• Number of centers: 26
• Capacity: 5,515
• Specialization: 54

Youth and Sports

• Sports complexes:1 
• Youth Centers: 19
• Sports stadiums: 15
• Gymnasiums: 1

Basic infrastructure 

Electrification rate: 99.1 %

• Urban: 99.7 % 
• Rural: 97.7 %

Drinking water 

• Urban: 100 % 
• Rural: 99.1 %

Water Purification: Urban service rate: 83.2 %

Transport 

• Roadways: 770 km 
• Railroads: - Lines: (Gabes to Sfax )-(gabes to gafsa industrial trasport) 
• Maritime: Ports: 3, major routes served
• Airport : 1 

Telecommunications / Post office

• Number of subscribers:
• fixed tel. : 37,670
• Mobile : 85,627
• Density: 11.9 %
• 1 post office per 7,000 inhabitants.

Industrial zones

Existing industrial zones: 3

• Gabes industrial zone:  828 Ha
• El Aouinet industrial zone: 29 Ha
• El Hamma  industrial zone: 7 Ha

  Targeted incentives


Law n° 93-120 promulgating the investment incentives code

Targeted incentives granted by the State in support of regional development

For the delegation of Mareth (ranked in the 2nd Group of zones being encouraged in the framework of regional development):

Investment premium: 15% of overall investment (exclusive of working capital), up to a ceiling of 600,000 TD
Premium in the form of State participation in expenditure for infrastructure: 50% of amounts committed by the company
Assumption of the employer’s contribution to the legally-constituted social security system (CNSS) : State assumption of this contribution for the first five years, starting from the date of initial activity
For services linked to culture: creation of theatrical companies:
8% of the cost of the initiative, exclusive of the cost of land
For services linked to recreational activities: (- Recreational facilities for families and children – Residential and camping complexes – Amusement parks): 15% of the cost of the initiative, exclusive of the cost of land

For the delegations of Hamma, Menzel El Habib, Nouvelle Matmata and Matmata (ranked as priority regional development zones):

Investment premium: 25% of overall investment (exclusive of working capital), up to a ceiling of 1,000,000 TD
* For new promoters, the premium is set at 30%.
Premium in the form of State participation in expenditure for infrastructure: 75% of amounts committed by the company
Assumption of the employer’s contribution to the legally constituted social security system (CNSS): State assumption of this contribution for the first five years, starting from the date of initial activity and of a share of this contribution for an additional period of five years, as follows:

Year of State assumption	Share of State assumption
1st year	80%
2nd year	65%
3rd year	50%
4th year	35%
5th year	20%

For services linked to culture: setting up a theatrical company:
8% of the cost of the initiative, exclusive of the cost of land
For services linked to recreational activities: (- Recreational facilities for families and children - Residential and camping complexes - Amusement parks) : 15% of the cost of the initiative, exclusive of the cost of land
 

Useful Addresss

Gouvernorate
Address : Place du Gouvernorat - Gabes
Tel : 75 270 300    Fax : 75 270 335

CCISE
Address : 202, Avenue Farhat Hached
Tel : 75 274 900     Fax : 75 274 688
E-mail : ccise@gnet.tn

Office de Développement Régional (ODS)
Address : 2, Ave Taha Houssein
6000-Gabes
Tel : 75 270 733 - 75 220 418    Fax : 75 270 733

OFPE
Address : Rue Ali Ben Guedaham
6001 - Gabes
Tel : 75 270 435    Fax : 75 270 875
Site web : www.emploi@.tn

Pépinière ISET –Gabes
Address : Route de Medenine - Gabes-Sud
Tel : 75 293 800    Fax : 75 292 688

ISET
Address : Route de Medenine Gabes Sud
Tel : 75 292 353    Fax : 75 290 651
E-mail : ridha.benabdennour@enig.rnu.tn

UTICA
Address : 15, Rue Ali Ben Khalifa 6000 - Gabes
Tel : 75 271 163   Fax : 75 274 141

CNSS
Address : Avenue de la République 6001-Gabes-Ville
Tel :  75 271 524   Fax : 75 275 900

Inspection de Travail
Address : 48, Rue de Bizerte – 6000 Gabes Ville
Tel : 75 270 819    Fax : 75 270 813

Douanes
Address : Bd. de l’Environnement
6000- Gabes Ville
Tel : 75 270 518 - 75 270 456   Fax : 75 270 798

Trésorerie Régionale
Address : Bd. de l’environnement 6000 - Gabes Ville
Tel :  75 272 606   Fax : 75 271 760

Imprimerie Officielle
Address : 18, rue El Maarifa - 6001 Gabes
Tel :  75 221 766   Fax : 75 221 766

BCT
Address : Avenue Med Ali - 6000 Gabes
Tel :  75 271 203   Fax : 75 274 141

 APIA
Address : Avenue Farhat Hached
6000-Gabes
Tel :  75 275 830   Fax : 75 275 830

 Espace Entreprendre
Adresse : Rue Ali Ben Guedahem
6001 - Gabes
Tél :  75 275 355   Fax : 75 275 820

 Centre d'affaires
Adresse : 202, Ave Farhat Hached
6000 - Gabes
Tél :  75 272 286   Fax : 75 278 614

  For further information, contact:

Industry Promotion Agency
Gabes Regional Offices

Address: 18, rue El Maarifa - 6001 Gabes
Tel: (216) 75 272 855 
Fax: (216) 75 278 555
e-mail: dr.gabes@api.com.tn 

Last updated :December 16, 2009

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