Tunis — The El Ghazala technological park, which is ranked among the 100 best technological parks in the world, has just begun equipping a technological resource centre housing 3 state of the art laboratories, further boosting the park's R&D activities.

The move which is expected to boost the park's competitive edge, comes at a time when plans are afoot to increase the park's surface which will henceforth spread over the governorates of Ariana and that of Manouba, north- west of the capital.

The first laboratory to be equipped, produces software for Microsoft, the second ensures training and experimenting on downloaded systems and their application on digital television and the third produces software for industrial enterprises in partnership with the University of Salerno in Italy.

The El Ghazala technological park which specializes in ICT, has already signed a number of partnership agreements with several Euro-Med universities and laboratories, paving the way for the production and export of digital products throughout the world. The park also houses a number business incubators fielded by young self- employed ICT entrepreneurs.

Latest figures released in February 2009 show that the park houses 70 ICT companies, generating 1500 employments, including over 1000 engineers. Most of these companies which include major international brand names in the sector, are partially or fully exporting companies.