Tunisian Strategic Planning Committee Reviews UTICA’s Investment‑Law Proposal
Date: Thursday, 2025‑12‑12
Location: Assembly of the People’s Representatives (ARP) headquarters, Bardo, Tunisia
Key Points
| Topic | Details |
|---|---|
| Stakeholders | The Strategic Planning, Sustainable Development, Transport, Infrastructure and Urban Planning Committee heard a delegation from the Tunisian Union of Industry, Trade and Handicrafts (UTICA). |
| Legislative focus | A draft amendment to Law No. 71 of 2016 on Investment. |
| UTICA’s position | President Samir Majoul highlighted the bill’s alignment with UTICA’s vision for a new investment dynamism. |
| Main demands | • Improve the business climate to sustain existing firms and foster competitive new projects. • Introduce incentive‑friendly tax policies. • Expand infrastructure and strengthen administrative decentralisation. • Facilitate financing for project promoters and companies. • Promote regional investment and export growth. |
| Calls for reform | • Review unbalanced trade agreements. • Boost internationalisation of Tunisian companies. • Reform the exchange‑rate regime to match competitor standards. |
| Strategic sectors | • Smart industry, renewable energy, and high‑tech manufacturing. • Food, health, energy and digital sovereignty. • Creation of smart industrial zones across regions. |
| Global investment landscape | Majoul urged Tunisia to capture post‑crisis investment flows, especially in pharmaceuticals, agri‑food, energy, electronics and mechanical industries, while reinforcing economic diplomacy with traditional partners and neighbours (Libya, Algeria). |
| UTICA’s commitment | The union pledged to help refine the draft, aiming for a healthy, incentive‑driven investment framework that generates wealth and jobs. |
| Parliamentary next steps | MPs recommended further hearings with all relevant parties to continue the legislative review. |
Detailed Narrative
The Strategic Planning, Sustainable Development, Transport, Infrastructure and Urban Planning Committee convened on Thursday at the ARP’s Bardo headquarters to hear a delegation from UTICA regarding a proposed amendment to Law No. 71 of 2016 that governs investment in Tunisia.
In a press release issued by the ARP, UTICA President Samir Majoul emphasized the importance of the draft, noting that its provisions converge with the organization’s vision to spark a fresh wave of investment activity. He stressed that enhancing the business climate is essential not only for the longevity of existing enterprises but also for fostering new, competitive projects on a national scale.
Majoul called for a tax incentive policy, accelerated infrastructure development, stronger administrative decentralisation, and easier access to financing for both project promoters and companies. He also advocated for regional investment incentives and measures that would encourage export growth.
Beyond these immediate measures, the UTICA leader urged a revision of trade agreements he deems unbalanced, the internationalisation of Tunisian firms, and a reform of the foreign‑exchange regime to bring it in line with the standards of competing nations.
Innovation and skills development were highlighted as critical pillars. Majoul urged the alignment of training programmes with market needs, investment in smart industries, renewable energy, and strategic sectors tied to food, health, energy and digital sovereignty. He suggested the creation of smart industrial zones throughout the country to support these goals.
Addressing the global re‑configuration of investment flows after recent crises, Majoul urged Tunisia to better leverage its attractiveness to capture foreign direct investment—particularly in pharmaceuticals, agri‑food, energy, electronics and mechanical industries. He called for a stronger economic diplomacy and deeper cooperation with traditional partners as well as neighbouring countries, notably Libya and Algeria.
UTICA’s representatives expressed readiness to collaborate on refining the draft, aiming to establish a robust, incentive‑driven investment framework that generates wealth and employment. In response, the committee’s deputies recommended continuing the legislative study through additional hearings with all concerned stakeholders.
Further Reading
- Tunisia–Algeria: UTICA Calls for a Comprehensive Free‑Trade Agreement – Read the article
Keywords: Tunisia, UTICA, investment law amendment, business climate, tax incentives, infrastructure, decentralisation, financing, regional investment, export promotion, trade agreements, foreign exchange reform, smart industry, renewable energy, food sovereignty, health sovereignty, digital sovereignty, foreign direct investment, economic diplomacy, Libya, Algeria.
