Tunisian Community in Côte d'Ivoire Quadruples Since the Late 1990s
The number of Tunisians living in Côte d'Ivoire has quadrupled since the late 1990s, reaching over 4,000 people, making it the largest Tunisian community on the African continent, according to Tunisian Ambassador to Abidjan, Zied Saadaoui.
Remarkable Evolution
In an interview with the Tunisian News Agency (TAP) on the occasion of the closing of the first edition of the Ivorian-Tunisian Crafts and Tourism Fair (SATIT 2026), which took place from February 5 to 8, 2026, Ambassador Saadaoui explained that this remarkable evolution accelerated after the African Development Bank (AfDB) returned its headquarters to Abidjan between 2013 and 2014. This move encouraged many Tunisian professionals to settle in Côte d'Ivoire, taking advantage of the direct air link, the absence of a language barrier, and the return of political stability.
Tunisian Businesses in Côte d'Ivoire
Ambassador Saadaoui noted that around 100 Tunisian economic enterprises currently operate in Côte d'Ivoire, spanning sectors such as:
- Pharmaceutical industries
- Insurance
- Engineering
- Construction
- Services
- Higher education
- Hotel training
- Healthcare
- Digitization
- Modern technologies
These enterprises have contributed to establishing a climate of trust with Ivorian partners, he added.
Strengthening Economic Dialogue
The Tunisian-Ivorian Crafts and Tourism Fair, which closed on Sunday in Abidjan, served as a platform to strengthen economic dialogue between the two countries and open up new perspectives for cooperation, particularly in the agro-food processing industries and tourist services, highlighted the Tunisian diplomat.
A Strategic Initiative
Ambassador Saadaoui estimated that this event, initiated by the private sector and supported by the Tunisian Embassy in Abidjan, the Ministry of Tourism, the Tunisian National Office of Crafts (ONAT), and the Tunisian National Tourism Office (ONTT), aims to reinforce Tunisia's economic positioning in the Ivorian market and emphasize a strategic sector with high added value. This will contribute to:
- Dynamizing tourism and crafts
- Creating direct and indirect jobs
- Supporting urban and rural development in both countries
The fair represents a significant step towards strengthening the economic ties between Tunisia and Côte d'Ivoire, with a focus on mutual benefit and cooperation.
