Tunisia's Economy Shows Promising Signs
According to Leila Messlati, Director General of the National Office of Traditional Industries, Tunisian exports in the craft sector are expected to exceed 160 million dinars (48 million euros) by the end of 2024. The results of the first half of 2025 confirm this trend, with an 8% increase compared to the same period last year.
Key Markets and Initiatives
The United States remains the primary export market, followed by European countries. Targeted initiatives are being launched to strengthen the presence of Tunisian products in the African market. The recent Craft Fair in Sfax, covering 1,300 square meters and bringing together 70 exhibitors from 14 governorates, highlights the importance of supporting the sector and providing artisans with a platform to promote their creations and increase their competitiveness in international markets.
Textile and Apparel Sector
The Tunisian textile and apparel sector continues to show its solidity, with exports increasing by 2.61% between January and May 2025, reaching nearly 3.94 billion dinars. This positive trend encourages the Minister of Economy to forecast a 2% growth for the entire year, with annual exports around 9.365 billion dinars.
Challenges and Support
The sector faces persistent challenges, including international competition, rising energy and raw material costs, declining European demand, and new regulations such as the carbon tax. To address these challenges, the government is mobilizing international financial support of 12.5 million dinars, including the "Gtex-Menatex" and "CBI" projects, which have led to a 42% increase in foreign investments, from 93 to 132 million dinars in the first half of 2025.
Foreign Investment
Tunisia confirms its attractiveness to foreign investors, with foreign direct investment (FDI) reaching 1,650.3 million dinars in the first six months of 2025, compared to 1,366 million dinars in the same period in 2024, representing a 20.8% increase, according to "Fipa Tunisie". These flows represent 537.2 million dollars and 492.7 million euros.
Breakdown of FDI
The manufacturing industry accounts for nearly two-thirds of FDI (1,031.3 million dinars), followed by energy (398 million dinars), which has seen strong growth thanks to renewable energy and oil exploration. Outside the energy sector, 4,677 jobs have been created through 623 projects, with a total value of 1,242.5 million dinars. France remains the primary investor (421 million dinars), followed by Italy, Germany, and the Netherlands.
Investment Goals
The authorities aim to reach 3,400 million dinars in FDI by the end of 2025, with a focus on industry and renewable energy. The government also plans to increase FDI to 4 billion dinars in 2026, the first year of the new development plan covering the period 2023-2026.
Sectoral Distribution of FDI
The sectoral distribution of FDI shows a clear dominance of manufacturing industries, which account for 62.9% of flows, followed by energy (24.3%), services (11.6%), and agriculture (1.2%). The authorities are working to promote investment in these sectors and create a favorable business environment to attract more foreign investors.
