€3 Billion Invested, 61 Active Projects, €1.318 Billion Portfolio: The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) Has Just Validated Its New Strategy for Tunisia Covering the Period 2026-2031
The EBRD has set a clear and quantifiable ambition: to transform Tunisia's economy, which has been weakened by a youth unemployment rate of 38.5%, a public debt of 85% of GDP, and an energy mix still dependent on hydrocarbons for 88%. Three axes structure this plan: boost the competitiveness of the private sector, accelerate the transition to green energy, and reduce regional disparities.
Tunisia's economy suffers from a deep-seated problem. State-owned enterprises dominate the market, generating more than half of the revenue of the country's 100 largest companies and employing a fifth of the national workforce. As a result, 47% of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) claim they cannot access financing, almost double the regional average. Corruption exacerbates the situation. In 2020, 56% of private companies cited it as a major constraint, compared to 36% in 2013.
In response to this situation, the EBRD aims to multiply the lines of credit dedicated to SMEs, develop the start-up ecosystem through its Star Venture and Blue Ribbon programs, and push for the reform of state-owned enterprises' governance. During the previous strategy, the Bank has already supported over 600 SMEs and provided €1 billion in trade facilitation.
3% of Renewable Energy: The Most Urgent Task
This is the figure that summarizes everything. Despite exceptional sunshine and significant wind potential, Tunisia only generates 3% of its electricity from renewable energy sources. The EBRD wants to accelerate this pace. It will continue to finance private solar and wind projects, support the development of the Tunisia-Italy interconnector ELMED, which has already been financed to the tune of €45 million, and accompany the reform of the energy sector's regulatory framework. In parallel, the Bank is tackling water stress. By 2050, 75% of coastal water resources could be lost due to the salinization of groundwater. A €75 million loan has already been committed to rehabilitate the sanitation networks of 33 Tunisian cities.
The Southern Region, a Forgotten Area That the Strategy Wants to Catch Up
The gap between the coast and the interior of the country remains vast. In the southern governorates, unemployment is almost three times higher than in coastal regions. Access to potable water falls to 42% in some rural areas. Connectivity is almost non-existent, with Tunisia ranking 161st in the world for fixed internet speed. To correct these imbalances, the EBRD is counting on the development of transportation and logistics infrastructure, the extension of high-speed internet to isolated regions, and the strengthening of financial inclusion for women and young people. The Bank intends to continue its Femmes en affaires program, which has already supported over 90 women-led SMEs in a country where the female participation rate in the labor market does not exceed 26.8%.
