Increase in local employment
In Tunisia 60% of the population is aged under 30, and the implementation of such a gigantic project would massively draw on manpower. The first positive outcomes would therefore benefit the Tunisian economy: employment rates will rise, obviously bringing along improvements in the overall social conditions.
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This plan entails the creation of a considerable amount of jobs. The official figures show high unemployment rates, with a 35% level in the youth range. Actual figures, however, may well be higher, namely in the south of the country.
A project of this kind is also very likely to be considered as a development benchmark in the whole Maghreb region.
A brake on desertification
A kick-start to agriculture and fish-farming
Tourism and real estate development
Migration control
Production of "carbon credits" and solar and marine energy
The advantage of replicability
2,300 square miles of ocean do create a microclimate. Upon completion of the project, the area could effectively hinder the growing threat of desertification. Evaporating waters would trigger rainfall cycles and, over time, the soil would become more fertile and apt for cattle breeding. This transformation would have positive impact on both the economy and the society: a flywheel effect on the "new deal" of the area, boosting new jobs and development opportunities.
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The result would be a new region of some 3,300 square miles, built around an inland sea and communicating with the Mediterranean sea. A less arid area where soil and water could be used to kick-start cultivation, cattle breeding, forestry, fish-farming, pastures and salt pans. The climate change would make it possible to farm the coastal lands all around the Chott, where there would be a humid climate almost throughout the year. The huge, positive impact on employment is blatant.
Tunisia is a strongly tourism-oriented country. This industry and its cluster sectors add up to 20% of the country's revenues. The establishment of the inland sea would stimulate a remarkable development of the tourist accommodation industry in the whole area. Wide shores would be fully dedicated to house hotels, resorts and marinas. The particularly favourable climate would allow touristic exploitation all year round.
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The establishment of an important economic development centre on the Mediterranean southern coast brings along the opportunity of controlling the quality of migration towards Europe, notably towards Italy. A construction plan that offers thousands of jobs would quite obviously encourage the local workforce to stay on site, rather than expatriate for better life conditions.
The creation of the "Sea in the Sahara", while helping reduce migration towards western countries, would also encourage migration towards Tunisia itself. Thanks to this project the country would turn into a magnet for workforce from all over the Maghreb region.
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The "carbon credits", regulated by the Kyoto Protocol, are negotiable in all western countries. The only conditions imposed are desalinating water and irrigating land not previously used for agricultural purposes.
New energy would also be generated by placing solar panels on dry land and turbines in the canal.
The features of this project make it applicable also to other areas with similar geographical features. In Libya, for example, there is a chott akin to the one in Tunisia. It is worth noting how Libya nowadays represents a crucial geopolitical issue. Captain Roudaire did also take into consideration Chott Melrhrir, situated in Algerian ground and neighbouring Chott El Jerid. A further possibility would be represented by the depression of El Qattara, south of the Egyptian town of El Alamein.
