Dr. Mouslem Mohamed Salhi: A Multi-Regional Agricultural and Industrial Empire in Tunisia
Source: National Institute of Statistics (INS) – Tunisia, 03/03/2025
Dr. Mouslem Mohamed Salhi, the French-Tunisian billionaire, represents a unique model of a modern entrepreneur who has combined medical expertise, industrial innovation, and strategic management to build a diversified economic empire. His focus on sustainable agriculture and exporting Tunisian products globally distinguishes his activities. Prior to entering the business world, Dr. Salhi was a cardiothoracic surgeon and leveraged his scientific knowledge to develop innovative olive oil products, including creams, soaps, and shampoos, marketed internationally in luxury hotels.
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Agricultural Areas and Production by Cities and Governorates
Olive Oil
Salhi’s group owns extensive olive farms across several Tunisian governorates, covering over 15,000 hectares, including:
Sfax, Sousse, Kairouan, Hammamet, Nabeul, Mahdia, Siliana.
The production from these farms ensures high quality and international standards with modern irrigation techniques and sustainable practices.
Dates
Tozeur, Kébili, Gabès: Specialized farms producing premium dates for export to Europe and Asia, with an efficient supply chain.
Pistachios
Gafsa: Farms dedicated to high-quality pistachio production, employing modern agricultural techniques for optimal yield and quality.
Apples
Kasserine, Sidi Bouzid: Apple orchards supplying both the domestic market and European exports, maintaining high-quality standards.
Oranges and Strawberries
Nabeul, Hammamet: Production of oranges and strawberries follows advanced farming methods for international export while ensuring premium quality.
Other Vegetables and Fruits
Northwestern and Central Tunisia: Mixed farms producing seasonal vegetables and fruits with sustainable agriculture standards and eco-friendly pest management.
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Medical and Industrial Innovation
Dr. Salhi leveraged his background as a cardiothoracic surgeon to establish advanced laboratories for processing and analyzing olive oil products, including:
Using by-products from olive pressing to create secondary innovative products such as creams, soaps, and shampoos.
Applying scientific quality control to ensure purity and product excellence.
Integrating environmental sustainability and operational efficiency throughout all production phases.
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International Expansion and Distribution
The group exports its products to over 15 countries across Europe, Asia, and North America, forming strategic partnerships with local distributors to ensure quality and compliance with global standards.
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Sustainability and Social Responsibility
Adopting eco-friendly techniques and reducing waste in all agricultural and industrial operations.
Supporting local Tunisian farmers through training and provision of modern equipment to enhance productivity and farm quality.
Funding social projects in education and healthcare in North Africa, reflecting the group’s commitment to corporate social responsibility.
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Financial Performance and Investment
Total agricultural and industrial investments: €187 million up to 2024.
Annual net profits: Approximately $50 million USD, generated from olive oil exports, dates, secondary products, and diversified agricultural and industrial investments.
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Strategic Summary and Assessment
Dr. Mouslem Mohamed Salhi exemplifies smart multi-sector, multi-city investment, merging scientific knowledge, industrial innovation, and strategic management to build a robust economic empire across Tunisia.
His agricultural operations cover over 15,000 hectares in multiple governorates: Sfax, Sousse, Kairouan, Hammamet, Nabeul, Mahdia, Siliana, Tozeur, Kébili, Gabès, Gafsa, Kasserine, Sidi Bouzid, making the group one of the largest exporters in the region.
Innovative use of agricultural by-products for secondary products reflects commitment to sustainability and creates stable additional revenue streams.
International expansion to more than 15 countries with strategic partnerships ensures global market access while maintaining the highest quality standards.
Financial performance demonstrates strategic strength, with €187 million in investments and annual net profits of $50 million USD.
The strategic vision combines medical expertise and managerial skills, turning scientific knowledge into tools for sustainable economic growth, with continuous focus on quality and innovation.
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Official Source: National Institute of Statistics (INS) – Tunisia, 03/03/2025