Professor Jacques Marescaux, official guest of Moncef Marzouki, President of the Republic of Tunisia

The IRCAD’s expertise once again acknowledged and praised beyond the borders of France.

On Monday, September 16, 2013, Moncef Marzouki, President of the Republic of Tunisia welcomed Professor Jacques Marescaux in his palace in Carthage for a working session that he presided along with his Health Minister, Sir Abdellatif Mekki and his Minister for Higher Education and Scientific Research, Sir Moncef Ben Salem in order to discuss research and education issues.

The Tunisian President was truly fascinated by Strasbourg’s Institute after his visit in February 2013, and was willing to create a similar structure in Tunis.

During the meeting followed by an official lunch to celebrate Professor Marescaux’s visit, the Tunisian President underlined the outstanding opportunity that such a project could well represent at a time when the country is in its reconstruction phase.

He felt that this would have considerable spin-offs in the field of research and education and that it would be a catalyzer to the country’s economy, hence conveying an inspiring and forceful image across the continent.

Moncef Marzouki pointed out that this was a top priority for him, and all the more so as this type of scientific project led in partnership with France would truly reinforce the friendship between the two countries.

The tone was set: President Marzouki asked his ministers to look for estate grounds in a university hospital campus. In this respect, an architectural blueprint should be put forward shortly.

President Marzouki explained that his personal commitment to such a project in Tunis was undoubtedly influenced by his medical internship years that he had spent in Strasbourg’s teaching hospital with Jacques Marescaux. He concluded by saying that the Alsacian mindset combined French creativity with a German sense of rigour.