Tunisia Reaffirms its Ambition to Play a Key Role in African Economic Integration
Tunisia has taken advantage of its participation in the 4th Intra-African Trade Fair (IATF 2025), held in Algiers from September 4 to 10, to reaffirm its ambition to play a driving role in the economic integration of the continent. The Director General of Economic and Commercial Cooperation at the Ministry of Trade and Export Development, Lazhar Bennour, emphasized the importance of this Tunisian presence during an intervention on the sidelines of the event.
A Strong Signal of Tunisia's Commitment to the African Market
The official recalled that the Tunisian delegation brought together virtually all of the country's economic structures, both public and private: ministries, investment agencies, the national committee for the implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (ZLECAf), as well as exporting companies, SMEs, artisans, and startups. "This is a strong signal of Tunisia's commitment to actively contributing to the African single market," he affirmed.
Strategic Cooperation with Algeria
Bennour praised the excellent organization and warm welcome provided by the Algerian authorities, highlighting the strategic relationship between Tunis and Algiers. According to him, the complementarity between the two countries should be translated into concrete initiatives so that Tunisia and Algeria can become together a true locomotive of continental integration.
The Automotive Sector: A Perfect Illustration of this Dynamic
The automotive sector perfectly illustrates this dynamic. "Thanks to the principle of continental accumulation of origin, we can produce a 100% African car, why not a Tunisian-Algerian one in the near future," he said. He recalled that Tunisia has solid expertise in this field, one of the country's main exporting sectors, generating added value and qualified jobs, particularly for engineers.
The Need to Strengthen African Logistics
Bennour also emphasized the need to strengthen African logistics to facilitate trade. "It is imperative to connect the countries of the continent by air, land, and rail to facilitate import-export," he pleaded. He encouraged industrialists to import more raw materials and semi-finished products from Africa, in order to respect the principle of accumulation of origin and better integrate into continental value chains.
Towards an Africa that Relies on Itself
Returning to the message of President Kaïs Saïed during the opening of the IATF, Bennour recalled that Africa must rely on itself to become a major player in the global economy. This implies, according to him, transforming natural resources locally, defining continental value chains, and breaking with the exploitation logics inherited from the past.
Tunisia's Advantages and Opportunities
The official highlighted that Tunisia is one of the few African countries to have a trade surplus with the European Union and that it has a new generation of exporters capable of meeting the requirements of the ZLECAf. He also mentioned the opportunities offered by the global transformation of the automotive industry, marked by the rise of electric vehicles, recalling that Africa has all the necessary raw materials for their manufacture.
Discussions with the Central Bank
Meanwhile, discussions are underway with the Central Bank to encourage Tunisian commercial banks to join the Pan-African Payment and Settlement System (PAPSS), which allows transactions in local currencies. "This is a major achievement, as it offers the possibility of freeing oneself from the international financial system, the price of which Africa still pays," he said.
The Strategic Project of the Ben Guerdane Free Zone
Bennour also highlighted the strategic project of the Ben Guerdane free zone, on the Tunisian-Libyan border, which is set to become a commercial and logistical hub connecting North Africa to landlocked countries. The external works are in the final phase, and African investors are currently being sought to concretize this project.
Preparing for the Next Edition of the IATF
Finally, and no less importantly, the senior official announced that Tunisia is already actively preparing its participation in the next edition of the IATF, scheduled to take place in Nigeria, promising an "even more significant" presence.
The 2025 Edition of the IATF
The 2025 edition of the IATF, organized under the theme "A Bridge to New Opportunities," brings together over 2,000 exhibitors, 140 delegations, and around 35,000 professional visitors, according to the Algerian press agency. Tunisia is participating with a 304 m² national pavilion grouping more than 24 exporting companies, including 12 SMEs, 8 artisans, and 4 startups, as well as a space dedicated to public institutions.
