After working for several industrial companies and building contractors, I decided to create my own company in 2014 -- Sud Services Industriels (SSI), a retail shop for mechanic parts. I took this entrepreneurial path because of my passion for mechanics and electronics. For as long as I can remember, I have always liked to tinker with devices and machines. Handling this equipment over the years has taught me a lot, especially about automotive mechanics. 

My company’s situation was stable before the COVID-19 pandemic, but the health crisis devastated the market for months. Everyone in the industry was on high alert, and no one wanted to take risks, which naturally affected supply and demand. This was a very difficult period and it seriously hurt our finances. 

I learned about the COVID-19 Enterprise Recovery Fund established by the U.S. government through USAID Tunisia JOBS on Facebook. I applied and received a grant to help me acquire Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) software to better manage my day-to-day business activities, such as accounting, procurement, and inventory. This software enabled my company to improve its management practices as business gradually recovered. Thanks to the grant, I was also able to keep my two employees on staff. 

Mohamed Zine Alabedine – Sud Services Industriels