Tunisia's Commission of Grand Projects, presided over by Prime Minister Sarra Zaafrani Zenzri, convened on October 8, 2026, at the Kasbah to discuss several major public projects. The meeting examined six key projects across various sectors, including sports infrastructure, energy, healthcare, and transportation. Two significant projects that received decisions were the reconstruction of the El Menzah Olympic Stadium and the protection of the Sidi Bou Saïd hill against landslides. These projects have been under consideration for some time, with previous updates provided by various government officials.
The El Menzah Olympic Stadium reconstruction project will be undertaken by a Chinese enterprise as part of Tunisia's cooperation with China. Although the government has confirmed this decision, details such as the identity of the Chinese company, the contract value, and the commencement date of the project have not been disclosed. The project was initially launched on June 10, 2022, with a budget of 100 million dinars and a deadline of 900 days. However, by spring 2024, it had only achieved about 20% completion. Following several years of delays, the project is set to resume in the final quarter of 2026.
The decision to award the El Menzah stadium project to a Chinese company follows an announcement made on April 8, 2026, by Naoufel Belhaj Rhouma, director of constructions and equipment at the Ministry of Youth and Sports. He mentioned that an appeal for bids would be launched as part of the Chinese partnership. In May 2026, Chinese Ambassador to Tunisia Wan Li stated that the process was at the stage of technical preselection of companies, pending the examination of financial offers and the selection of the project contractor.
In addition to the El Menzah stadium project, the Commission also made a decision regarding the market for landslide protection works on the Sidi Bou Saïd hill. The project has been under government monitoring since early 2026. A decision on January 26, 2026, entrusted the Ministry of Equipment and Housing with supervising studies and works to secure the site. By July 8, 2026, the project's steering committee, led by Minister Salah Zouari, had reviewed the results of the first phase of technical studies.
The Ministry of Equipment and Housing had aimed to start the Sidi Bou Saïd protection works in August 2026, following the committee's review. However, the October 8 decision, while concerning the works contract, did not specify the selected company or the status of the interventions announced for August. The project aims to mitigate landslide risks in the area, which has been a concern for some time.
The Commission of Grand Projects also examined four other significant projects during its meeting. These included the extension of the Borj El Amri power plant, the rehabilitation of the Bir Ali Ben Khalifa regional hospital, and potentially other infrastructure and development initiatives. The progress and details of these projects are expected to be disclosed in future updates.
The decisions made by the Commission of Grand Projects reflect the Tunisian government's efforts to advance major infrastructure and development initiatives. The reconstruction of the El Menzah Olympic Stadium and the protection of the Sidi Bou Saïd hill are critical projects that have been under consideration for some time. The implementation of these projects is expected to have a positive impact on the country's sports, infrastructure, and environmental resilience.
Key points
- A Chinese enterprise will undertake the reconstruction of the El Menzah Olympic Stadium as part of Tunisia's cooperation with China.
- The Commission of Grand Projects also made a decision regarding the market for landslide protection works on the Sidi Bou Saïd hill.
- The meeting examined six key projects across various sectors, including sports infrastructure, energy, healthcare, and transportation.
