PAMPAT 2: A Success Story in Promoting Tunisia's Agricultural Products and Tourism
After the success of the first phase of the Project for Access to Markets of Agro-Food and Terroir Products (PAMPAT 1), which significantly contributed to the development of the terroir products sector in Tunisia, the second phase of the program (PAMPAT 2) has reinforced the strategic importance of this sector and made it a true driver of economic development and job creation.
PAMPAT 2 has accompanied agro-food and cosmetic producers, tourism and gastronomy operators, as well as culture and artisanal actors to develop new business models and tourist and gastronomic experiences around Tunisia's flagship terroir products.
To mark the closure of this second phase, an event was held on Wednesday, May 20, 2026, at the Sheraton Tunis hotel, in the presence of institutional partners, representatives of the public and private sectors, and actors from the agro-food and terroir product chains. This meeting allowed for the presentation of the main results and impacts of the project, as well as the perspectives for the development of the sector in Tunisia.
Three thematic panels structured this meeting: the structuring of the terroir product sector, the new model of integrated development and tourism, and the development of value chains.
PAMPAT 2: A Continuation of the First Phase
Implemented by the United Nations Development Institute (ONUDI) and funded by the Swiss Federal Department of Economic Affairs, in collaboration with the Ministry of Industry, Energy and Mines, the Ministry of Agriculture, Water Resources and Fisheries, and the Ministry of Economy and Planning, PAMPAT 2 is a continuation of the first phase (2013-2019), recognized for its pioneering role in valorizing terroir products in Tunisia.
With a budget of 3.74 million euros, PAMPAT 2 (2020-2026) has allowed for the consolidation of the achievements of the first phase while expanding its scope of intervention to three new sectors: date derivatives, dried tomatoes, and pomegranates, while continuing to support the fig of Barbarie sector.
The project, which supports actors in Kairouan, Nabeul, and Testour, has accompanied the various actors in the agro-food and cosmetic value chains to improve quality, conformity, productivity, job creation, and access to international markets. It has also encouraged entrepreneurship, product diversification, and the promotion of geographical indications and quality labels.
Significant Results
Since 2020, PAMPAT 2 has recorded significant results on the four accompanied sectors, with over 250 beneficiary companies and 1,000 supported farmers, 566 new products launched on the market, 3,600 new jobs created (90% held by women), 58 new companies created, a 194% increase in exports, and nearly 9 million euros in investments made by companies.
In this context, Mrs. Hamida Belgaied, Director General of Agro-Food Industries at the Ministry of Industry, Energy and Mines, highlighted the structural impact of the project on Tunisia's agro-food sectors:
"PAMPAT has injected a new industrial dynamic into our regions by transforming traditional sectors into true innovation sectors. The program has favored the emergence of innovative, competitive, and export-oriented agro-food SMEs, while valorizing local resources and strengthening the economic attractiveness of territories. This approach is fully in line with the orientations of the industrial and innovation strategy by 2035."
A National Strategy for the Valorization of Terroir Products
While the first phase of the program focused on the valorization of harissa, fig of Djebba, and fig of Barbarie, as well as the establishment of the Tunisian Terroir Products Competition, PAMPAT 2 has allowed for the expansion and consolidation of these achievements through the development of a national strategy for the valorization of terroir products and its implementation in pilot regions.
The project has also promoted emblematic products such as rose, olive oil, and orange blossom water, while encouraging the emergence of new economic activities related to gastronomic tourism, local craftsmanship, and culture.
In this perspective, Mrs. Mahassen Gmati, PAMPAT project focal point at the General Directorate of Agricultural Production at the Ministry of Agriculture, Water Resources and Fisheries, stated:
"The implementation of the valorization and promotion strategy for terroir products in pilot regions has allowed us to outline the main lines of a new territorial development model around terroir products. Tunisia aims to replicate this approach in other regions of the country."
Impact on Tourism
Thanks to a fruitful collaboration with the Ministry of Tourism and travel agencies, PAMPAT 2 has generated a significant impact on the tourism sector since 2022, with 383 beneficiaries from different sectors in Kairouan, Nabeul, and Testour, 52 operators offering new immersive tourist experiences, and nearly 11,000 tourists benefiting from this new offer.
For the Tunisian National Tourism Office (ONTT), this approach fully meets the new expectations of visitors seeking authentic and immersive experiences:
"Today, tourists are considered visitors seeking human and cultural experiences. Thanks to the Thematic Routes developed with the support of the PAMPAT program, we are valorizing a sustainable tourist offer that brings visitors closer to artisans, producers, and creators in our regions, particularly in Nabeul and Kairouan, where the terroir has become a true locomotive of tourist attractiveness."
The Artiterroir Initiative
The Artiterroir initiative, a competition for artisanal products inspired by terroir products, has contributed to creating synergies between artisanal and terroir products, highlighting a new sector with high added value contributing to the strengthening of the identity of our regions.
As emphasized by Mrs. Sana Mansour Ezzine, Deputy Regional Director of Artisanal Crafts in Nabeul:
"With the Artiterroir initiative, PAMPAT has succeeded in creating a true Tunisian way of life that links our terroir products to unique artisanal creations. Today, we no longer sell just a product, but a complete cultural experience, where each artisanal creation reflects the authenticity of our regions."
The Tunisian Terroir Products Competition: A 5th Edition with Significant Results
The Tunisian Terroir Products Competition, whose fifth edition was held in 2025, fully participates in this dynamic. This edition recorded 539 competing products, 165 medals awarded to 119 companies (74% managed by women), and a 30-50% increase in sales of medal-winning products.
For the Agency for the Promotion of Agricultural Investments (APIA), this dynamic opens up new economic and investment perspectives:
"Thanks to the support of the PAMPAT project, our terroir products have become true vectors of sustainable investment, allowing producers to develop innovative and high-value-added projects in their territories. The Tunisian Terroir Products Competition has created an exceptional dynamic around excellence and quality, generating new opportunities for market access and the development of competitive sectors."
A Sustainable Territorial Development Model
Through its integrated and innovative approach, PAMPAT has laid the foundations for a new territorial development model centered around terroir products, which have become the drivers of a new economic dynamic mobilizing all actors around a common goal: sustainably valorizing the wealth and know-how of Tunisian regions.
