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PMI appoints Hervé Kamdem as General Manager for Tunisia and Libya to lead smoke-free transformation
via Business News1 min read
Philip Morris International PMI has appointed Hervé Kamdem as General Manager for Tunisia and Libya. This appointment aims to accelerate PMI's transformation towards smoke-free alternatives, aligning with the group's strategic repositioning and significant investments in this segment. Kamdem, who holds a degree in industrial engineering and an MBA from Alliance Manchester Business School, brings over twenty years of experience, including in West Africa and the Indian Ocean region, where he led organizational and operational transformations. He has held several strategic roles within PMI, adapting organizations to changing contexts and structuring multi-country operations. Kamdem highlighted the potential of the Tunisian market and PMI's transformation, stating that over $16 billion has been invested in smoke-free products, more than 43 million adults have transitioned, and over 40% of PMI's revenues now come from these alternatives. He also emphasized the need for a progressive approach tailored to local specificities. This appointment is intended to strengthen PMI's presence in Tunisia and Libya while continuing its focus on developing smoke-free products.
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This summary was AI-generated from a story originally published by Business News.
The European Commission is preparing a reform to prevent Chinese companies from winning contracts for projects funded by the European Union, following several Tunisian railway contracts awarded to the Chinese state-owned giant CRRC. According to the Italian agency Nova, the European executive is considering introducing a European preference clause in the next multi-annual financial framework 2028-2034 for markets funded by EU funds or guarantees. This consideration comes after CRRC secured two significant railway contracts in Tunisia. One contract, valued at approximately 90 million euros, is for the supply of 18 electric trains for the Tunis-La Goulette-La Marsa TGM line, co-financed by the European Investment Bank EIB and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development EBRD. Another CRRC subsidiary reportedly won a 38.2 million euro contract from SNCFT for five electric trains for the Moknine-Mahdia line, also largely supported by international funding involving European institutions. European companies were reportedly disadvantaged by CRRC's significantly lower prices, making competition difficult based solely on cost. Brussels is concerned that European institutions finance these projects and bear the financial risks, while contracts are awarded to companies from third countries, often heavily subsidized by their governments. The issue extends beyond railway projects, with the new Bizerte bridge construction, awarded to the Chinese company Sichuan Road and Bridge, al
Tunisia is currently experiencing a severe heatwave, with temperatures peaking on Wednesday, July 15, 2026. By 1 PM, several meteorological stations recorded temperatures well above 45°C, and one region even surpassed 48 degrees. The National Institute of Meteorology INM released a ranking of the hottest cities, with Nasrallah recording the highest at 48.2°C, followed by Jendouba at 48°C, Gaâfour at 46.5°C, and Béja at 45.7°C. Other cities like Sidi Bouzid, Meknassy, Nadhour, Kairouan, Medjez El Bab, and Oueslatia also saw temperatures exceeding 45°C. Several other localities, including Le Kef, Bir Ali Ben Khalifa, Aïn Boussaadia, Jammel, Dahmani, and Kondar, crossed the 44°C mark. Even regions typically less affected, such as Séliana, Bou Ghrara, and Skhira, registered temperatures above 43°C. The INM advises citizens to limit sun exposure during the hottest hours, stay hydrated, and exercise caution, especially for the elderly, children, and individuals with chronic illnesses.
The Tunisian Human Rights League LTDH on Wednesday, July 15, 2026, condemned the rise of hate speech and calls for violence on social media, following the circulation of a video containing death threats targeting the Secretary General of the Workers' Party, Hamma Hammami, and other political figures including Mohamed Abbou, Ezzedine Hazgui, Samir Dilou, and Rached Ghannouchi. The organization called on the public prosecutor to immediately open a criminal investigation and protect those targeted. The LTDH expressed deep concern over the continuous escalation of hate speech and incitement to violence in the digital space, attributing it to a decline in tolerance, an increase in exclusionary and stigmatizing discourse, and persistent impunity for acts punishable by law. The Workers' Party had previously denounced the video as an explicit call for the assassination of its Secretary General, criticizing authorities for not removing the publication or prosecuting its alleged author. Jean-Luc Mélenchon, a leader of La France insoumise and a candidate for the 2027 French presidential election, also expressed support for Hamma Hammami on X, urging Tunisian authorities to ensure his protection and prosecute those responsible for the threats. The LTDH emphasized that freedom of expression does not justify incitement to violence, calls for murder, or the spread of hate speech, considering these serious criminal offenses. The organization also noted the public prosecutor's "passive attitu