The Tunisian economy has long suffered from low growth and social inequity, including high unemployment. In 2022, the government put together a comprehensive reform program to address structural weaknesses, unleash private sector growth and job creation, and pave the way for brighter economic prospects and have taken important steps to implement that program. More recently, favorable cyclical developments have helped reduce the fiscal and external deficits. Tourism has been strong and the prices of imports have fallen while the prices of some agricultural export commodities increased. However, regional drought has weighed on growth, which is expected to remain subdued in the medium term.
Key Indicators |
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| Population in millions, 2022 | 12.1 | |
| GDP per Capita, U.S. dollars, 2022 | 3822 | |
| GDP Growth, percent, 2022 | 2.5 | |
| Inflation, CPI average, change in percent, 2022 | 8.3 | |
| General Government Debt, percent of GDP, 2022 | 79.8 | |
| Source: WEO, October 2023 | ||
Automotive Sector
Strengths
- An average annual growth of 12% over the last decade
- More than €2 billion of exported auto spare parts
- Among the 10 providers of Europe for electrical wiring systems
- Only country in Africa with local countries established world wide
- Different stages of value chain covered by Tunisian companies (40% local content)
- Experienced and highly adaptable workforce
- Geographic proximity and fast delivery times
- Consortium of equipment manufacturers within the Tunisian Automotive Association
Infrastructure
Main Infrastructure
- 9 international airports
- 7 commercial seaports and 1 oil terminal
- Developed network of roads and highways
- About 152 industrial zones and 2 parks for economic activities
- 12 completivity clusters
- 15 cyber parks for different specialties
Aerospace Industry
Strengths
- More than 80 companies set up in 4 industrial clusters
- Presence in the entire supply chain: high precision cutting and machining
- High value-added activities: software and hardware engineering
- Integrated industrial platform dedicated to aeronautics
- Consortium of companies with activities related to aerospace industry within Tunisian Aerospace Association Industries
ICT
Strengths
- Multiskilled human resources
- The highest concentration of researchers among Arab and African countries
- A performing infrastructure offer
- The biggest data center in Africa “dataxion” is based in Tunisia
- Tunisia is the first Arab and African Country in terms of innovation (2018 Bloomberg Innovaon Index)
- Tunisia is the 7th best city around the world to launch a start-up
- A favourable legal and fiscal framework
Agribusiness
Strengths
- The first worldwide exporter of dates
- The second African exporter of organic products
- Six medals in the Los Angeles International Extra Virgin Olive Oil competition 2018, including 4 goals
- The only African country having received the recognition of equivalence with the EU and Switzerland pertaining to organic agriculture
- Africa’s 2nd Largest Exporter of Organic Products
- Booming organic production
- Quality products, natural taste and flavor
- Synergy between research centers and companies
- Financial and tax incentives in favor of the sector
Renewable energy
Strengths
- A well defined energy strategy by 2030
- Intensifying energy efficiency promotion in all sectors with the aim to decrease primary energy demand by 2030 of 30% compared to the baseline
- Legal framework: Law no 12 of May 11, 2015 on the production of electricity from renewable energies
- Tunisia is committed (COP 21) to produce 2250 MW of electricity from renewable energy by 2030
- Priority sector under the new investment law
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