Tunisia's Packaging Sector Has Strong Potential to Become a Major Regional Player
The Tunisian packaging sector has a strong potential to position itself as a major regional player in Africa and the Middle East, opening the way for a dynamic of technological innovation, said Minister of Industry, Mines, and Energy, Fatma Thabet Chiboub, on Thursday. With nearly 250 companies and more than 25,000 direct jobs, this sector is today capable of creating more added value and conquering new markets, while offering young people qualified employment opportunities, she emphasized during the "Packaging 2025: Africa and Middle East" days, held on November 27 and 28 in Tunis around the theme "Innovating for a circular and sustainable packaging".
New Orientations to Accelerate Innovation
To support this growth, the minister highlighted the new orientations of her department, which aim to accelerate innovation in packaging systems, printing technologies, and sustainable materials. She also insisted on the support provided to start-ups, SMEs, and private initiatives, in order to make innovation an essential pillar of the sector.
Quality and Conformity to International Standards
The Ministry of Industry, Mines, and Energy is working to strengthen the quality and conformity of products to international standards, a condition essential for accessing the most demanding markets and competing with major global brands in terms of security, sustainability, and performance. Efforts are also being made to modernize the legal framework related to plastic materials and packaging, while promoting investment in recyclable materials and eco-responsible solutions.
Consolidating Tunisia's Position in Sustainable Development
According to Chiboub, consolidating Tunisia's position alongside Africa and the Middle East in the field of sustainable development remains a priority, which must pass through the establishment of effective partnerships and regional platforms dedicated to research, experimentation, training, and expertise exchange between public and private actors.
Tunisia: A Regional Hub for Packaging
For his part, the President of the Tunisian Union of Industry, Trade, and Handicrafts (UTICA), Samir Majoul, affirmed that Tunisia has the necessary assets to become a true regional hub for packaging. "We have a creative and resilient industry, which has demonstrated several times its ability to evolve and adapt. We can also count on talented engineers, competent technicians, ambitious entrepreneurs, as well as performing technical centers. To this is added our strategic geographical position, which makes Tunisia a natural bridge between Africa, the Middle East, and Europe".
Fully Exploiting Tunisia's Potential
Majoul believes that this potential must now be fully exploited, calling for a clear and shared vision, strengthened collaboration between public institutions and the private sector, as well as increased investment in research, technology, training, and innovation.
The Return of a Major Event
The General Director of the Technical Center for Packaging and Conditioning (PACKTEC), Narjes Maslah El Hammar, highlighted that this new edition of the packaging days marks the return of a major event, after six years of absence. She noted that the program of this edition is structured around themes in line with the current priorities of the sector, including the circular economy and packaging materials, with a particular emphasis on recyclable, biodegradable solutions, and responsible eco-design approaches.
Thematic Priorities
The second theme will focus on luxury packaging and printing, highlighting creativity, differentiation, and upgrading, supported by high technical precision. The third theme will be dedicated to food safety, addressing pharmaceutical packaging, safety requirements, and traceability systems. According to the General Director, this event constitutes a privileged opportunity for economic actors in the packaging and printing sectors, offering them a space for exchange and a global vision of trends, innovations, and technologies related to materials and packaging systems.
