Maltese yachting services company set up in Tunisia

The fast emerging yachting sector in Tunisia should not be regarded only as a direct competitor, but also as a potential market, according to Roland Darmanin Kissaun, managing director of Best Marine Tunisia Yacht Services, who was among the exhibitors of the 1st International Boat Show earlier this month in Hammamet, Tunisia.

A local entrepreneur with over 30 years' involvement in the yachting sector, Mr Darmanin Kissaun recently joined forces with another local trader, Lawrence Camilleri, and ventured into setting up a yachting firm to operate in Tunisia.

Best Marine Tunisia Yacht Services will be operating from the Port Yasmine Hammamet, offering a range of services which include yacht agents, brokerage, chandlery, duty free suppliers and any other facility related to yachting. Best Marine Services were the only exhibitors of Maltese credentials among the 80 participants of this first boat show in Tunisia, with other exhibitors from other countries.

"We are positively looking forward to our Tunisian project. We are confident that the relatively short distance between the two countries, coupled with the distinct repair and maintenance facilities Malta offers, should be instrumental for us to re-direct new business," remarked Mr Darmanin Kissaun.

Commenting on the boat show, Mr Darmanin Kissaun said the show generated interest in participants from France, Italy, Greece and Turkey while visitors were also numerous and yachting-oriented.

M. Jean Claude Desmares, show coordinator, said a number of boat shows in the Mediterranean that today enjoy international reputation had a much more modest beginning than this when they organised their first editions.

"We feel confident that our list of foreign participants will increase next year and this will definitely include more Maltese companies," M. Desmares said.

The 700-berth avant-garde Yasmine Hammamet Marina provided an enchanting backdrop to the boat show, presenting over 10,000m of exhibition ground with both land and sea setting.

Tunisia today promotes yachting facilities in six regions along its vibrant coastline - over 1,250 kms of it - with a potential of some 1,950 berths.

The names of Sidi Bousaid, Yasmine Hammamet, El Kantaoui, and Monastir are now familiar names with yachtsmen cruising the Mediterranean.

The 1st International Boat Show of Tunisia was also given favourable recognition by the Bank of Valletta, which operates a representative office in Tunis.

"We believe these type of manifestations provide appropriate setting for the generation of interesting opportunities. It falls within our principal objectives to encourage and service such initiatives," commented Robert Darmanin, head of the Bank of Valletta's Tunis representative office.

Ives De Barro, Maltese ambassador in Tunisia visited the show and remarked that this show could become another important opportunity even for Maltese yachting concerns to promote and sell our product.

The 1st International Boat Show of Tunisia was organised by the Tunisie Nautique Organisation with the support of the Tunisian National Tourism Office, the national carrier Tunisair and the Yasmine Hammamet Marina.

Wilfred Sultana was a guest of the Tunisian National Tourism Office, along with other foreign yachting correspondents, to attend and report on the 1st International Boat Show of Tunisia, held in Hammamet between May 8-13