Gafsa — The governmental delegation on a visit, Saturday, to the governorate of Gafsa, announced that 500 million Tunisian dinars (MTD) are devoted to the region, for the achievement of 249 projects as part of the complementary state budget for 2012.

The meeting held by the governmental delegation with the representatives of the different sectors of the region, was boycotted by the representatives of an important number of political parties and organisations of the civil society (31 parties and associations), as well as those of the Regional Labour Union (URT), as a sign of protest against the measures accompanying the organisation of the meeting.

The delegation includes the Ministers of Interior, Industry, Agriculture, Environment and administrative reform and Relations with the National Constituent Assembly and the Minister adviser in charge of Economic Affairs.

On behalf of the delegation, Minister Adviser in charge of Economic Affairs Ridha Saïdi said the scheduled projects are defined by taking into account the development priorities of the regions and the main claims.

Besides, the Minister Adviser explained that the priority measures are, notably the creation of the industrial zones. In this connection, 24 MTD are devoted to the development of 40 hectares of industrial zones, while 54 MTD to serve the promotion of the higher education system in the region, in addition to the planning of an industrial zone, in Gafsa-Ksar and another to host the projects related to tourism and health.

The remaining investments are devoted to the sector of health (17 MTD), the rehabilitation of lower-class neighbourhoods (42 MTD), the protection of cities against floods (11 MTD), the extensions and renovation of sewerage network (54 MTD), in addition to other projects in the sectors of youth and sport, education, vocational training, basic infrastructure, social action and culture. In turn, Industry Minister Mohamed Amine Chakhari said that the industrial projects to be achieved by the public sector in the Gafsa region, notably the sector of phosphates and production of fertilisers need the mobilisation of some 700 MTD in 2012.