France-Tunisia: A long-lasting partnership

The partnership between France and Tunisia: a long-lasting relationship

The General Assembly of the Tunisian-French Chamber of Commerce and Industry, recently held in Tunis, once again highlighted the historical relations and privileged economic partnership between France and Tunisia. This partnership aligns perfectly with the economic priorities of Tunisia and meets the aspirations of both countries.

The Tunisian-French Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Ccitf) recently held its annual general meeting where its members unanimously approved the moral and financial reports for the year 2023. The meeting also provided an opportunity to reflect on the highlights of the past year. The session was concluded by the Minister of Industry, Fatma Thabet Chiboub, who reassured the business leaders present. She emphasized the importance Tunisia places on its relations with France, its largest commercial partner and major foreign investor. The Minister reiterated Tunisia’s commitment to further developing and deepening economic and commercial relations with France, following a high-level visit by the Tunisian Prime Minister to Paris.

Minister Chiboub also discussed the national strategic vision for industry and innovation by 2035, highlighting specific actions being taken to realize this vision. These actions include the finalization of comprehensive operational programs with evaluation and monitoring indicators, the establishment of specialized masters programs in intellectual property and industry 4.0, and the launch of a national program to reduce carbon emissions. The Minister emphasized the importance of stakeholder involvement in these initiatives to achieve a prosperous, innovative, and eco-friendly Tunisia.

Furthermore, the French Ambassador, Anne Guéguen, emphasized the long-standing economic partnership between France and Tunisia, rooted in historical ties and economic complementarity. She also mentioned the recent meeting between Tunisian Prime Minister Ahmed Hachani and his French counterpart Gabriel Attal, focusing on the establishment of a high-level cooperation council in the coming months to update bilateral cooperation frameworks, particularly in the economic domain.

Guéguen reaffirmed France’s commitment to supporting Tunisia’s economic development through reforms, business support, and access to financing. She highlighted France’s tools like BPI-France, the Maghreb Fund, credit lines by AFP and DG Treasury, and initiatives like Choose Africa and Digital Africa to support startups. The Ambassador also stressed the importance of cross-investments between the two countries in key sectors like digital economy, innovation, eco-friendly transition, and sustainable tourism.

Finally, Mohamed Louzir, Secretary-General of the Ccitf, expressed the Chamber’s dedication to continue supporting its members and assisting them in their local and international development. The 2024 action plan includes training programs on corporate social responsibility and carbon emissions, indicating the Chamber’s commitment to addressing evolving priorities and challenges faced by businesses. Louzir underscored the Chamber’s commitment to providing comprehensive support and better service to its members in the coming year.