TUNIS - The various transport means could create new jobs and vitalise activities in regions if the devised programmes are carried out, participants in the forum on "Employment and Regional Development in the Transport and Logistics Sector" pointed out, on Wednesday.
Officials from the sector estimated that 14,707 workers operating in the land transport sector, 8,278 of whom by private companies (56.3%) and 6,429 by the public sector (43.7%) during the 2011/2014 period.
Besides, 826 agents are expected to be hired in the sea transport activity during the 2012-2015 period.
Participants reckoned that development of logistics would help create 35,000 jobs at mid- and long-term periods, nearly 20,000 among these jobs would be direct and skilled.
This strategy aims to establish a network of logistic zones, namely, in Greater Tunis, Sousse, Sfax, Gafsa, Tozeur, Jendouba and Zarzis.
They said that large-scale projects, such as the Enfidha deep-water port and the extension of the railway network to all regions, would contribute to create new jobs, in addition to the broad prospects offered to the new professions in the maritime and aviation fields.
According to estimates, 70,000 navigating officers are needed at the international level, 40,000 of whom in Europe and 25,000 in the Mediterranean region.
Additionally, 120,000 and 500 pilots are needed, at the international and national levels, respectively.
Transport Minister Salem Miladi highlighted the efforts to improve the efficiency of the transport sector, by means of materialising a development strategy of public transport, notably the railway transport.
During the coming stage, efforts will focus on increasing the transport sector's share in the GDP (GDP) up to 8.5%, to bring it to the level of the European Union countries and some emerging countries such as Turkey, i.e., 10%.
The other targets are: consolidation of the role of the sector in the achievement of growth and social justice, via bridging the regional divide between the coastal and inland regions, by means of carrying out projects for the benefit of the inland zones of the country.
The transport sector provides some 135,000 direct jobs in the land transport sector.
The sea and port transport activity offers about 6,107 direct jobs, including 3,907 jobs in the public sector and 2,200 in the private sector. The air transport sector provides 14,000 direct jobs.
© Tunis-Afrique Presse 2011
