The Self‑Reliance Policy Championed by the President Proves to Be a Wise Choice
The international financial market is losing credibility on a regular basis, while geopolitical agendas are becoming increasingly complex.
Background
Everyone agrees: the International Investment Conference, Tunis 2020 (held in 2016) opened the doors to every economic, financial and social ambition, even the most unlikely ones.
- Some observers spoke of the emergence of a new Eldorado, while others already hinted at the birth of a new African Singapore.
- These interpretations were certainly exaggerated, but they were not without merit, especially since the Tunis Declaration listed more than 140 projects (including 78 megaprojects) for a total investment of roughly 34 billion Tunisian dinars (≈ 15 billion USD).
All projects and financing were directed exclusively toward strategic sectors, underscoring their importance.
Early Optimism
Several factors gave credibility to these investment promises:
- Reassuring signals from major financial players.
- Enthusiasm and commitment from the international community to support Tunisia’s socio‑economic transition.
The Reality After Ten Years
Unfortunately, the gap between commitments and actual results has proved significant.
- Deep disappointment has set in as ambitions gave way to disillusionment.
- Available data show that the number of launched projects and the amount of invested capital remain limited.
- The average implementation rate is very low, never exceeding 30 %. This modest figure is largely due to the binding agreements signed in Tunis, which gave the projects a compulsory character.
Beyond these few successes, there is little reason to expect better outcomes for now, as the remaining investments are merely non‑contractual promises that depend on donor motivation, the macro‑economic climate, and timing.
The Alternative
In addition to the timid execution, the speed of implementation has been described by all observers as excessively slow.
- During the first two years (July 2018 onward), only 5 % of the 78 major projects were completed.
- The main actors behind these promises have offered a litany of excuses:
- Bureaucratic bottlenecks
- Complex geopolitical agendas
- Lack of visibility
- Structural constraints
- Fiscal pressures
The Tunis conference is not an isolated case. The 8th International Conference on Africa Development (TICAD‑8), held in Tunis, performed no better—perhaps slightly worse.
- The pledge to make Tunisia a gateway for Japanese companies in Africa, through a solid economic partnership, has stalled.
- Nevertheless, decision‑makers identified and validated over 80 projects with a budget of about 2.7 billion dinars.
- Except for a handful of launched initiatives, the promise of a new growth engine remains on hold.
Implications for the New National Policy
This additional failure highlights the necessity of the new national policy based on self‑reliance, the valorisation of Tunisia’s own means and resources, and the support of historic friends and partners.
According to some sources, a “Friends of Tunisia” conference could be organised soon to rethink financing for the 2026‑2030 Development Plan.
- The same sources confirm that the goal would be to mobilise 60 billion dinars of external financing.
Keywords: Tunisia, self‑reliance policy, international investment conference, megaprojects, strategic financing, TICAD‑8, Japanese‑Tunisia partnership, development plan 2026‑2030, external funding, economic growth.
