The Prime Minister, Najla Bouden, has introduced the members of the new Tunisian government, including the new Minister of Agriculture, Mr Mahmoud Elies Hamza, President of IRESA and delegate of Tunisia to CIHEAM.

CIHEAM Zaragoza would like to congratulate him on his new position and wishes him every success in this worthy mission.

Delegate of Tunisia on the CIHEAM Board of Governors since 5th June 2017, Mahmoud Elies Hamza has been at the helm of the Institution of Agricultural Research and Higher Education (IRESA) since the same year. The Institution of Agricultural Research and Higher Education includes several higher education institutions (including the National Agronomic Institute of Tunisia) as well as research institutions (including the National Institute of Agronomic Research of Tunisia, the National Institute for Research in Rural Engineering, Water and Forestry, the National Institute of Marine Science and Technology or the Arid Regions Institute of Medenine or the Olive Tree Institute of Sfax).

Mahmoud Elies Hamza has been a lecturer in agricultural machinery and director of the preparatory school of biology and geology of Soukra, as well as director of the National Agronomic Institute of Tunisia (INAT).

He was conferred the medal of Knight of the National Order of Merit in the field of education and science in July 2007.

He obtained a first degree in agricultural engineering and a doctorate in agronomic science from the National Agronomic Institute of Paris-Grignon and took postdoctoral studies at the University of Agronomic Science at Gembloux in the field of agricultural mechanization. He is also an expert in the agricultural sector and in rural areas, having worked for organizations such as ONIDO and the FAO.