Tunisia Seeks to Consolidate its Status as a Land of Innovation, but Retaining Talent and Startups Remains a Central Challenge
As Tunisia strives to establish itself as a hub for innovation, the retention of talent and startups remains a pressing issue. This challenge was at the forefront of the 3rd edition of the "Get Entrepreneurial" conference, held at the Utica, an initiative of the Ensi Junior Enterprise. Entrepreneurs, experts, and students gathered to discuss the structural challenges hindering the growth of the national ecosystem and potential solutions to transform Tunisia into a sustainable economic and technological hub.
Brain Drain and Startup Exodus: A Threat to Tunisia's Potential
The exodus of talented individuals and startups is a alarming signal, as these young companies often turn to more dynamic and supportive environments when they are unable to achieve their growth and innovation ambitions in Tunisia. This not only erodes the country's potential but also underscores the need for a more comprehensive approach to supporting entrepreneurship.
Quality of the Economic Ecosystem: The Key to Retention
According to Mohamed Ben Abid, Director General at the Ministry of Economy and Planning, the quality of the economic ecosystem is crucial for retaining talent and startups. This ecosystem relies on 12 essential pillars, including access to funding, partnerships, exports, logistics, and more. Creating a favorable business climate is essential for Tunisia to become a hub for innovation and entrepreneurship.
Making Tunisia a Hub for Talent
The 3rd edition of the "Get Entrepreneurial" conference aimed to explore the intricacies of the ecosystem that hinder the success and expansion of startups. Oussama Messaoud, Director of Operations at Betawaves, emphasized that talent cannot be retained by force, but rather by creating an evolving and innovative ecosystem that offers freedom to entrepreneurship and global connectivity. By establishing such an ecosystem, Tunisia can attract talent from around the world and become a hub for innovation.
Raising Awareness and Creating a Vision for Tunisia's Future
Ahmed Zribi, President of Ensi Junior Enterprise, highlighted the importance of awareness and a strategic vision for Tunisia's future. He questioned why young Tunisians who study abroad often do not return to their home country, emphasizing the moral obligation to contribute to the country's development. Zribi believes that conferences like "Get Entrepreneurial" help raise awareness about the ecosystem's challenges and identify solutions to promote Tunisia as a hub for innovation.
Experts' Insights: Overcoming Ecosystem Challenges
Experts at the conference analyzed the ecosystem's weaknesses, including regulatory, financial, administrative, and organizational challenges. Jihène El-Ouakdi, a member of the "Startups Act" College, stressed that innovation must respond to real market needs. Chiraz Arfaoui, from "Wiki Startups," noted that a common mentality in Tunisia is the desire to succeed alone, whereas collaboration and partnerships can lead to expanded horizons, markets, and innovation. Mentorship, support, and guidance are also essential for reducing the risk of failure, according to the experts.
Conclusion
The "Get Entrepreneurial" conference provided a platform for stakeholders to discuss the challenges and opportunities facing Tunisia's ecosystem. By raising awareness and promoting a strategic vision for the country's future, Tunisia can work towards creating a favorable business climate, retaining talent, and becoming a sustainable economic and technological hub.
