The Olive Wood Craft District in Sidi Bouzid Sees Intense Activity
The olive wood craft district in Sidi Bouzid is currently experiencing intense activity. The deafening sound of machines and the smell of olive wood fill the entire space, where agile fingers take hold of olive branches to transform them into magnificent trinkets, spatulas, and other kitchen utensils.
A National Treasure with Economic Potential
Olive wood is a national treasure that can provide jobs for young people, according to Taieb N'siri, an artisan specializing in olive wood, in an interview with the TAP agency. He notes that investing in this field is profitable, especially if the production is intended for export. N'siri has been active in this field since 1990 but only started his own business in 2005. He manufactures kitchen utensils and handicrafts that are sold in local and foreign markets. He takes pride in having chosen this profession, which has been passed down through generations with passion and has deep roots in the entire Sidi Bouzid region.
Challenges Facing the Industry
However, N'siri laments the lack of raw materials and labor, as well as the lengthy administrative procedures required to obtain authorization to uproot unproductive olive trees.
Regional Support for the Industry
The regional commissioner of the National Office of Crafts in Sidi Bouzid, Imen Akrimi, told the TAP agency that artisanal production of olive wood is an activity with its own specificity in this central-western governorate, where the number of olive trees exceeds 23 million. According to Akrimi, the olive wood from the region is of a specific quality, characterized by its drying capacity and great resistance.
Economic Impact and Support
Sidi Bouzid has 48 craft workshops specializing in olive wood, including 10 export-oriented entities that generate more than 3 billion euros per year (equivalent to more than 11 billion dinars), according to Akrimi. She noted that the Crafts Office is working to attract labor through a specific program of professional retraining with the participation of 11 training centers in the specialty of olive wood, each with 5 trainees.
