The Tunisian economy, among the most competitive economies on an African and Arab scale, offers companies an environment of a better quality than that which they could find in the main competing countries.

The level of education of the working population, the rigor of macroeconomic management and the quality of public institutions are particularly favorable to the competitiveness of enterprises.

Global competitiveness

Tunisia is the 1 ^st in North Africa in terms

• of attractiveness of talent | “Global Talent Competitiveness Index 2018, INSEAD”
• of entrepreneurial ecosystem | “Global Entrepreneurship Index 2018, GEDI”
• of innovation | “Bloomberg Innovation Index 2018, Bloomberg”
• competitiveness based on industrial performance | “Competitive Industrial Performance Index 2018, UNIDO”
• of ICT development | “Measuring the Information Society Report, 2017”
• transition to electronic commerce | “B2C E-commerce Index 2018, UNCTAD”

Sector competitiveness : Tunisia is: 2nd world exporter of dates 2nd largest exporter of olive oil 2nd exporter of organic products in Africa 3 e African producer car components. 

AERONAUTICAL SECTOR : The aeronautical sector in Tunisia has known, for a decade, a real expansion:

• 81 companies employing more than 17 000 personel ;
• presence of internationally renowned players like the LATECOERE group, SABENA TECHNICS, ZODIAC AEROSPACE and STELIA from the EADS group …
• high value-added activities ranging from software / hardware engineering to the production of aeronautical systems, including bar turning and high precision machining;
• sector exporting nearly  70%  of production to the European Union, one of the most competitive markets;
• constantly increasing export of products and services;

AGROFOOD SECTOR : The agro-food industry Is a flagship sector of Tunisian industry.Tunisia has greatly strengthened its skills in the organic farming sector. Indeed, having an organic agricultural area of 500,000 hectares, an organic production volume of around 265,000 tonnes per year and around 80% of organic products intended for export, Tunisia is the 2nd largest exporter in Africa. of organic products.

LEATHER & FOOTWEAR SECTOR : The leather and footwear sector in Tunisia is:

• 238 companies (10 people or more) employing more than 24,880 people,
• 175 companies are fully exporters and more than 114 companies with foreign participation,
• Nearly 720 MTND of exports during the first 8 months of 2016 ,
• FDI flows in 2015 reached: 6.2 MTND representing 13 projects and 230 jobs,
• 144 foreign or mixed-capital companies employing more than 19,500 people at the end of 2015. .

MECHANICAL & ELECTRICAL INDUSTRIES : A quality infrastructure adapted to the IMEE sector

Tunisia has an infrastructure that meets international standards and is well suited to the IMEE sector:

• a competitiveness cluster in Sousse , dedicated to the IMEE sector, in particular mechatronics (55 ha), an offshoring area specializing in services (48 ha) and a multi-sector industrial zone (142 ha),
• a training center for aeronautical professions in El Mghira which also includes technological platforms in sectoral training centers,
• a technical center specialized in the Mechanical and Electrical sector (CETIME),
• a research center in microelectronics and nanotechnology,
• 4,500 graduate engineers and technicians / year,
• 8 engineering schools ,
• an engineering school specializing in mechatronics and electronics,
• 36 sectoral training centers spread over 14 governorates.

OFFSHORING : The Offshoring sector in Tunisia has:

• Nearly 300 foreign companies or companies with foreign participation.
• Over 34,000 jobs.
• Nearly 1,800 companies operating in the ICT sector.
• 200 university courses in disciplines related to ICT.

The digital economy contributes 7% of the national GDP. The sector is divided into three strategic segments namely: Information Technology Outsourcing (ITO) ,Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) voice and data, R&D and KPO (Knowledge Process Outsourcing).

Tunisia is ranked 2nd in Africa in the development of e-government. Source: E-government Development Index, United Nations, 2016 Tunis is the world leader of large emerging cities in terms of cost efficiency. Global Cities Awards, FDI Global Cities of The Future 2014/2015

PLASTICS IS TUNISIA AN EXPANDING SECTOR : The plastics industry is experiencing a real industrial boom in Tunisia:

• more than 500 companies working in the sector,
• more than 15,000 people work there,
• in 2015 , a total of 106 units were fully exporters,
• Foreign direct investments in the plastics industry reached, at the end of 2015 , the sum of 460 MTND creating 11,000 jobs .

TEXTILES & CLOTHING IN TUNISIA : A SECTOR OF EXCELLENCE : The textile and clothing sector in Tunisia is experiencing real dynamics:

• 1,695 companies employing 10 or more people, of which 1,410 produce entirely for export;
• One of the main sectors of the manufacturing industry in terms of employment. It employs over 160,000 people;
• At the end of 2015, the number of foreign companies stood at 1,142 units employing more than 125,274 people;
• The flow of FDI in 2015 was 40.8 MTND, including 10.3 MTND for new creations and 30.5 MTND in the form of project extension;

Tunisia is one of the world’s leading suppliers of clothing. Tunisia is the 9th supplier of Europe and the 2nd supplier of France in this field. Tunisian products, made in Tunisia, are present on the European market at the occurrence of: 1 in 3 work clothes; 1 in 2 swimsuits; 1 in 4 jeans; 1 in 3 bras;

Success stories: http://www.investintunisia.tn/En/success-stories_113_114

FIPA-TUNISIA External Investment Promotion Agency

El Ammami, North Urban Center,
1004 Tunis,Tunisia
Tel: (216) 70 24 15 00 Fax: (216) 71 231 400
E-mail: fipa.tunisia@fipa.tn
Website: www.investintunisia.tn