The interview

MedArtSal

In the framework of EU legislation, Blue Growth represents “a long-term strategy in support of sustainable growth of the marine and maritime sectors applied by the European Commission (DG MARE) to harness the untapped potential of Europe’s oceans, seas and coasts as drivers for the European green economy with a great potential for innovation, improved competitiveness and quality jobs aiming at achieving the goals of the Europe 2020 strategy for smart, sustainable and inclusive growth.” How SODIMER is changing own business approach to environment and climate change? And how MedArtSal project contributed or supported in this changing?

FH – SODIMER

First, thank you for welcoming me here and to the MedArtSal project. The business approach of SODIMER has been involving in a very good direction and that has been done by implementing new business practices, that are more sustainable. For example, in this area we have been implementing HSE policies, so Health, Safety and Environment policies: for example, we have been purchasing protective and personal clothing for our employees to protect them from the hazards of salt production processes. Also, in this area we have been recommending to realize continuous testing of the quality of the water within the basin. Another activity we realised to increase the sustainability of our business practices is the launch of a new strategy to reduce the waste, by reducing the usage of waste in the sediments, but also by implementing a dust suppression system and the needed disposal of hazardous materials.

Within the DESK project, we have been collaborating with ACG Generations - Association de continuité des générations ACG, that is helping us in implementing the activity. We were able to implement touristic circuits. Namely, we have developed two different circuits. We traced one circuit to allow people to go and explore the salina and the basin, and at the same time look at the production. Then, there is another circuit, where people can experience the leisure activity of bird watching.  

Within that project we also have built cabin woods, in which we show our own products that we would also like to sell to our visitors in the future, and at the same time pictures of birds and of all the living species in the salinas.

Then, in collaboration with ASCOB Sirtys, we also conducted a feasibility study about the possibility of fish farming within the salinas basins closer to the sea. Our objective is to promote this kind of activity, so that in the future we can attract more people to visit our places and eat at our nearby restaurants. I think that the MedArtSal project has enabled us to promote the environmental and cultural heritage of our region and, by doing so, it contributed to the SODIMER goals of preservation and growth of the marine and maritime resources in the Mediterranean, which I think aligns with the EU Blue Growth Strategy 2020 for a smart, sustainable and inclusive growth.

MedArtSal

Your experience successfully exploits the potential and the versatility of saltpans in Tunisia. Environment, tourism and cooperation with local organisations and associations. What would you suggest to exploit the added value of this kind of diversification activities? What do you need to turn them from pilot to corporate activities?

FH – SODIMER

In order to explore the added value of diversification of our products, we actually have to turn them from pilot phase to a concrete and corporate one. In order to do so, we have to look at several key factors.

Firstly, we have to continue on the diversification of our products, beyond normal artisanal salt. To this aim, we have been looking at different usages and applications of salt. I would especially mention the use of salt in cosmetics, for examples in shampoos or exfoliating soap.

We have already done a pilot action about this and in wellness sector, so we would like to sell our products in the wellness sector. Here, we started with magnesium, chloride oil and the bath salts. Adding to that, we also have the paramedic sector. Here, we are now planning the way to conceive a new product, a nozzle spray made of seawater. In order to be able to implement these products, we need to invest more in research and development, so that we can also identify new markets and tackle on new clients.

Secondly, our dream is to establish a touristic compound within the premises of the salinas. Our vision to make this dream come true is to build eco dunes around the salinas, 100% made of recyclable material and with zero waste within their system. So that people/tourists can come and spend a night at our salinas, discover them and at the same time enjoy their time for example in our restaurants, eating local biological products, and experience some new dishes with salt. We are also looking at building special basins and lagoons where people can come and relax, maybe enjoying a massage, where also parents can bring their children and help them to learn how to swim for the first time.

Obviously, for this we need to invest in infrastructures, but also in marketing, because we need to attract the tourists and urge them to come and visit us in the salinas. But it is also very important to maintain a good relationship within our environment, including associations, local communities, residents and all the social actors. So, to do so we need to do and maintain a strong and ongoing dialogue with these stakeholders, in order to make sure that our activities are actually aligned with their vision and their own priorities and needs.

MedArtSal:

In the framework of MedArtSal, your experience was born thanks to the cooperation with relevant stakeholders, among which AGC and ASCOB. How much important is the cooperation with such relevant stakeholders to develop and implement this kind of project? How would you define their contribution for the achievement of your common goals?

FH – SODIMER 

I would like to underline that nothing could have been achieved without the help of local and social communities, especially the local NGOs that help us.

I would like to mention ACG – Association of Continuity of Generations, which is headed by Mrs Sana Taktak Keskes. I really would like to thank her, especially for help and guidance. She was very helpful and gave us a lot of ideas. She also helped us with her team in order to be able to bring to life this project. She brought the experts, she had the right contacts and this has made our project easier to implement.

When it comes to Ascob Syrtis I want to thank Mrs Lobna Loudaya. She helped us to realise the feasibility study (mentioned before), since they had the right expertise and knowledge. I would also like to thank the MedArtSal partners for everything, as well as the local and governmental entities that have been very cooperative and helped us in organising the event where we first launched the touristic circuits.

Without the contribution of all these actors, especially the NGOs, none of our projects would be at this level. I think they played a very crucial role in realising the DESK project and I really hope to keep collaborating with them in the future, especially because they are the ones that can bring the local community to us. This is because with SODIMER, as a company, we could not naturally ask people to come in this easy manner, while as an association or NGO, they already have members and members have their families. They know how to attract tourists, how to promote the events and make people come to our salinas. In this sense, this collaboration has helped us to become opener and more welcoming towards tourists.

This experience has also a lot of other good consequences, like for example, in reducing our problems with the neighbours or making people speaking well about our company, not as before, and this because these people had the opportunity to come and visit our salinas, know that there is a touristic circuit, and we are an open company. Now people think that SODIMER is a company for the region and not only a private one, like another region's heritage.