Tunisia is represented as a partner in the EU-funded TECHLOG project by the Sfax Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCIS) and the University of Sfax, with CCIS' mission within this stage of project activities being to analyze the state of the art and practices in the field of technological innovation for transport and port activities, with the goal of identifying companies that can benefit from technology transfer and training using innovative methods. CCIS is currently undertaking a study of road transport businesses using questionnaires and scheduled interviews with important participants in the sectors, such as ministries of transport and logistics, trade unions, professional transportation associations, and others, to carry out this purpose. A large number of questionnaire responses have been received from the largest and most vital corporations in Tunisia. 

To delve deeper into the different cooperation opportunities and gain insight knowledge on the current situation of the road transport sector in Tunisia, CCIS organized a meeting within the Tunisian Ministry of Transport and Logistics in order to inform and sensitize the various directions of the ministry about the TECHLOG project, the activities that will be carried out, and the main expected results. The first meeting was conducted with Mr. Faez Khehia, General Director of Intelligent Transport at the Ministry of Transport and Logistics, during which the various subjects were discussed. 

This encounter provided an opportunity to introduce the TECHLOG project, including the lead beneficiary, partners from 5 Mediterranean countries, project objectives, planned activities and expected outcomes, as well as Tunisian organizations involved. Mr. Khehia stated that he had only recently learned about the project and that he was enthusiastic about it since it would allow the road freight transportation sector to be enhanced. The parties then discussed the project's main goal, which is to encourage technology transfer activities in order to achieve consistent quality standards for specialist workers in the ports and transportation industry, with the General Director of Intelligent Transport at the Ministry of Transport and Logistics emphasizing that quality requirements for workers necessitate standardization of their training. He also feels that, given the technological upheaval, it is critical that the transportation sector is up to speed on digitization and the use of modern information and communication technologies.

During the discussion, it was noted that a Mediterranean laboratory open to transport operators will be established with the goal of promoting and sharing technology transfer initiatives within the trans(port) communities through the identification of training needs on the simulator supported by TECHLOG partners the Sfax Chamber of Commerce and the training offer available in Tunisian training institutions identified by the University of Sfax.

Finally, Mr. Khehia stated that, ideally, and for the sustainability of training and the improvement of the quality of training of company drivers, financing the acquisition of a simulator and its installation in a Tunisian institution is required, resulting in the project's influence on Tunisia being enormous rather than a transient impact that may end with the project's completion. He also remarked that the General Direction for Land Transport is well-positioned to oversee and contribute to the success of this endeavor, promising to further disseminate the TECHLOG project's efforts and objectives among public stakeholders and policymakers.

TECHLOG project partners across the Mediterranean are always on the lookout and constantly working to collaborate and target Research and Development/ Innovation organizations and trans(port) stakeholders, both public and private, who are interested in the opportunities for innovation to make (trans)port performance more efficient, sustainable, and harmonized in the Mediterranean region.