Tunisian Companies Chaâbane & Cie and Soroubat Win Major Highway Contract
Outbidding China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation, a Heavyweight in the African Sector
According to Africa Business+, the Enfidha-Kairouan highway contract has been awarded to two Tunisian companies. Chaâbane & Cie has won the largest share, valued at over 52 million euros, while Soroubat has secured the second part, estimated at nearly 50 million euros. The two groups will work simultaneously on their respective lots to complete the project.
This type of market sharing between two national companies is significant for a project of this scale. It demonstrates sufficient technical and financial capacity for the two companies to absorb a contract that many had reserved for a single foreign operator.
Among the unsuccessful bidders is the China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC), a Chinese state-owned group and one of the most active players in the African infrastructure market. CCECC's footprint spans from East Africa to North Africa, and sub-Saharan Africa, with a presence in highways, bridges, and railways. The company typically relies on two major advantages:
- Highly competitive prices, backed by Chinese public financing
- Rapid execution capabilities for complex projects
Despite these advantages, CCECC's bid was not selected for this contract. The awarding of the contract to two Tunisian companies, Chaâbane & Cie and Soroubat, marks a significant milestone in the country's infrastructure development, demonstrating the capacity of local companies to undertake large-scale projects.
