Over 100 Stakeholders of the Green Ecosystem Gather in Hammamet
More than 100 stakeholders of the green ecosystem, representing public institutions, the private sector, business support organizations (BSOs), associations, and the academic world, recently met in Hammamet, Tunisia, during a national networking event organized by the International Center for Environmental Technologies of Tunis (CITET) under the Green Forward program, funded by the European Union and implemented at the meso level by the international non-governmental organization SPARK and CITET in Tunisia.
Objective of the Initiative
This initiative aims to encourage exchanges, stimulate partnerships, and promote best practices in the field of green and circular economy, while accelerating ecological transition in Tunisia.
A Space for Dialogue and Cooperation
In her opening speech, Ms. Kmaira Ben Jannet, General Director of CITET, stated that "the Green Forward program is an initiative aimed at strengthening synergies between stakeholders of the green economy ecosystem in Tunisia." She added: "This event constitutes a space for dialogue, cooperation, and partnership creation between public, private, associative, and academic actors. Together, we have the opportunity to strengthen the national ecosystem supporting ecological transition by encouraging synergy of initiatives, technological innovation, mobilization of green financing, and sharing of good practices."
The Role of CITET
The Director of CITET also emphasized the driving role of the Center: "This launch day is just a starting point. Its success depends on our ability to work hand in hand, share our expertise, and find solutions adapted to the Tunisian context. CITET will continue to play its role as a facilitator, coordinator, and catalyst for this dynamic by mobilizing our expertise, networks, and resources to support economic actors in their transition towards more sustainable models."
A Program Focused on Synergy and Resilience
For her part, Ms. Afef Ajengui, in charge of the regional Green Forward program at the meso level at SPARK, recalled that "at the meso level, Green Forward aims to strengthen the capacity of BSOs to promote public-private partnerships, link policy and strategic dialogues to the preparation of a favorable ground for a resilient, green, and inclusive economy, and improve access to green financing." She specified that SPARK, through the meso component of the Green Forward program, is committed to working collaboratively. "Our approach is not to rebuild, but to work from what already exists. For this reason, we are actively seeking synergies with other initiatives."
The European Union, a Key Partner in the Transition
Representing the European Union, Ms. Sandrine Beauchamp stated: "The Green Forward program concretely illustrates our ambition to make our economies carbon neutral, more circular, and resilient by acting at three levels: macro, meso, and micro. At the level of public policies, it supports legislative and institutional frameworks to ensure a predictable environment for businesses. As for support structures like BSOs, they are true replicators of the green transition for SMEs. Green Forward brings public policies closer to the business world by training, accompanying, and creating partnerships." According to her, "the event organized in Tunisia illustrates this dynamic of cooperation and public-private dialogue."
Twelve BSOs to Pilot the Green Transition of SMEs
The Green Forward program, aiming to position business support organizations as major actors in the green and circular transition, marked an important stage during its event in Hammamet, bringing together over 100 stakeholders. It was on this occasion that the selection of twelve BSOs was announced from among more than 50 candidate structures. This selection ensures a national impact, covering the 4 major regions (North, Center, South, and Greater Tunis) and 8 strategic economic sectors (agri-food, textiles, mechanics, materials, innovation, female entrepreneurship, etc.).
List of Selected BSOs
The organizers officially unveiled the list of the 12 selected business support organizations (BSOs), which will benefit from the program's training and support:
- Association for the Development of Rural Women (ADFR)
- Kef Business Center (CA Kef)
- Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Southwest (CCISO)
- Technical Center for Mechanical and Electrical Industries (CETIME)
- Textile Technical Center (CETTEX)
- Mechatronic Cluster
- Confederation of Citizen Enterprises of Tunisia (CONECT)
- Technical Center for Construction Materials, Ceramics, and Glass (CTMCCV)
- Mediterranean Institute for Training in Maritime Professions (IMFMM)
- Bizerte Competitiveness Pole (PCB)
- SYRES Association for Development
- Wikistartup
Lasting Impact
The selection of BSOs is accompanied by a concrete and ambitious roadmap focused on three axes, aiming to accelerate the increase in competence and anchor the dynamic in the long term.
- Capacity building: 36 executives from BSOs will benefit from a targeted training-action course on the green economy, eco-innovation, and sustainable financing.
- Strategic partnerships: 10 partnership agreements (MoU) with public institutions are planned by 2026 to consolidate territorial synergies.
- Concrete impact on the ground: three of these BSOs will directly support 30 Tunisian companies (10 SMEs each), introducing them to the principles of the green and circular economy.
Commitment of Selected BSOs
To illustrate the commitment of the selected organizations, Noureddine Guizani, General Director of CETIME (Technical Center for Mechanical and Electrical Industries), one of the 12 selected BSOs, highlighted the importance of their role, stating: "CETIME, which has existed for 43 years, has a significant accumulation of technical and technological expertise to provide to Tunisian SMEs. We consider ourselves an indispensable link in the value chain of ecological and energy transition, knowing that we have signed a strategic framework agreement with CITET to unite our efforts in the service of Tunisian companies."
Towards a More Resilient Ecosystem in Tunisia
The selection of these 12 organizations marks the operational launch of the meso component of the Green Forward program in Tunisia. The ambition is now to consolidate cooperation between all actors of the green transition to collectively build a more durable, inclusive, and resilient economic ecosystem.
Next Steps
The next steps will include the immediate implementation of the training course for executives and the signing of the first MoUs with public institutions, ensuring the sustainability and expansion of the program's impact on Tunisian territory. According to the press release.
