The project would make the North African country’s economy more competitive by improving connections between the northern and eastern regions of the country, the AfDB said.

The total cost of the project is €277.29m, with the European Investment Bank lending €123m and the government contributing €32.29m.

Mohamed El Azizi, AfDB’s director general for North Africa, said the project would “further improve mobility of people and goods” in Bizerte, which is expected to become “the premier port in Tunisia”, and will strengthen the competitiveness of the country’s economy. 

The project is also expected help improve the quality of air by cutting congestion and is in line with the Strategic Plan for Tunisia for 2016-21.

The development bank also approved a €71.56m loan to Tunisia for digitalisation to strengthen its public services.