On Monday 8 September, Chinese group JETTY Automotive Technology Co. LTD inaugurated an 8,000 m² site in Borj Cédria, a suburb of the capital Tunis, for the production of cables for Volvo and Cherry car manufacturers. This is the group’s first international location, creating 800 jobs by 2026.
Founded in 2010 in Changchun High-tech Zone, JETTY Automotive Technology is a recognised global player in automotive technologies, with over 1,000 patents in high value-added areas such as battery cables for electric vehicles, charging cables and aluminium wires.

This new project consolidates Tunisia’s status as a major player in the global automotive industry, thanks in particular to:
• A skilled and adaptable workforce
• A strategic geographical location
• A favourable regulatory environment
• Dedicated institutional support

L’Agence Investir en Tunisie, FIPA – Tunisie, salue cette nouvelle implantation qui confirme la position de la Tunisie en tant que plateforme industrielle compétitive en Méditerranée.

International investment in Tunisia reached 1,650.3 million Tunisian dinars at the end of the first half of 2025. Compared to the last three years, these investments recorded increases of +20.8% compared to 2024, +35.8% compared to 2023, and +63.6% compared to 2022.

FDI is distributed as follows: 24.3% for energy, 62.9% for manufacturing, 11.6% for services, and 1.2% for agriculture.

Among the investment projects that contributed significantly to this increase:

• 44 (7%) relate to projects worth 104.7 MTND (8%) that will create 800 (17%) new jobs.
• 579 (93%) relate to expansion projects worth 1137.8 MTND (92%), creating 3 877 (83%) new jobs.

More than 42% of FDI received in the first half of the year is concentrated in the Greater Tunis region (553.7 MTND), mainly in the governorate of Tunis with 232.4 MTND and the Northeast region with more than 35% of FDI (436.3 MTND).

The breakdown by country of origin places France in first position with 421 million Tunisian dinars, or more than 33% of total FDI excluding energy. Italy is in second place with 159.4 million Tunisian dinars, Germany third with 124.2 million Tunisian dinars, the Netherlands fourth with 91.1 million Tunisian dinars, and the United States of America in fifth place with 88.4 million Tunisian dinars.

According to the World Investment Report 2025 published on June 15 by the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), foreign direct investment (FDI) declined by 11% globally, marking the second consecutive year of decline and confirming the sharp slowdown in productive capital flows.

Source : Invest in Tunisia Agency (FIPA Tunisia)

The inauguration of TUI’s new offices in Sousse, Tunisia Global Business Services, on January 28 marks a significant milestone in the group’s expansion in Tunisia. This strategic project positions the city as a key regional hub for TUI’s travel services, further strengthening Tunisia’s role within the group’s international network.
With the opening of these new offices in Sousse, TUI, the global leader in tourism and travel, reaffirms its ambition to develop high-quality travel services at the heart of the MENA region. Sousse is now a strategic center managing 320,000 trips annually. This development will not only provide a more efficient platform for travel management but also enhance TUI’s relationships with its regional and international partners.
The launch of these offices in Sousse also has positive implications for the local economy. The on-site team, composed of 150 employees, primarily works in English and German, two of TUI’s key business languages. “Our employees are trained to deliver excellent services and meet the growing needs of international clients. We are highly impressed by the skills and enthusiasm of our team, which reassures us that our international hub project in Tunisia has all the elements for success in the medium term,” stated Mr. Simon Cope, Managing Director, during the inauguration ceremony attended by a delegation from FIPA Tunisia, the main Tunisian partner of this new project.
The opening of this site in Tunisia aligns with TUI’s long-term strategy to strengthen its presence in emerging markets. In addition to its customer service and travel management activities, the company is also exploring collaboration opportunities with local stakeholders to expand its service offerings.
The inauguration of TUI’s Tunisia Global Business Services in Sousse is an opportunity to celebrate the strong relationship between Tunisia and the international group, which dates back to 1995 when TUI first began operations in the country through a partnership with a local player. By delivering top-quality services and leveraging its strategic position, TUI is paving the way for a prosperous future for Tunisia’s tourism industry and business travel sector.

According to the latest report from Qhala and Qubit Hub, Tunisia has secured second place in the Africa 2025 AI Talent Readiness Index, tied with Egypt and just behind South Africa.
This ranking is a testament to Tunisia’s rapid digital transformation, robust integration of ICT into education and government-backed strategies that are shaping a world-class AI talent ecosystem.
Key highlights of Tunisia’s AI readiness

1. Strong performance across 20 indicators
The AI Talent Readiness Index evaluates 54 African countries using 20 concrete indicators, including:
– Developer density (number of developers per million inhabitants)
– Internet penetration
– Electrification levels
– Access to AI and machine learning education
– University graduation rates
– Data protection laws
– Existence of national AI strategies
Tunisia excels in all three pillars of the index:
– Digital skills (40%)
– Data and infrastructure (35%)
– Government readiness (25%)

2. Leader in data and infrastructure
Tunisia stands out as a continental leader in the ‘data and infrastructure’ category. The country boasts
– High density of developers: 4,120 developers per million inhabitants, the highest in North Africa.
– 71.37% of the population has ICT skills, surpassing Morocco, Algeria and Egypt.
– Advanced electrification and reliable internet connectivity, essential for the development of AI.

3. Government-led digital transformation
The Tunisian government has prioritised digitisation through:
– The National Digital Strategy and the Startup Law, which foster a vibrant startup ecosystem.
– Investment in digital education platforms and smart infrastructure, such as the CCK initiative and technology parks that link education, research and industry.

4. Sustainable AI infrastructure
Innovative companies like Solecrypt are building on this foundation by launching data centres powered by renewable energy, such as their new facility in Tozeur, powered entirely by solar energy and using advanced liquid cooling technology.
– These initiatives not only support Tunisia’s digital ambitions, but also ensure that the country’s AI infrastructure is sustainable and globally competitive.

« Our goal is for our data centre to benefit from 100% renewable energy electricity… Tozeur is ideal for photovoltaic power, with the necessary infrastructure and international connectivity. »
Amir Ben-Gacem, CEO, Solecrypt

Why it matters
Tunisia’s high ranking is not just a number – it validates real progress on the ground:
– A thriving pool of digital talent, backed by government support and education reform.
– Rapid expansion of a clean and reliable infrastructure for AI development.
– A growing ecosystem where local talent and sustainable technologies are converging to create a global competitive advantage.

Tunisia succeeded in attracting TND 730.8 million (the equivalent of $231.1 million) in foreign investment during the first quarter of 2025, compared with TND 597.5 million during the same period in 2024, an increase of 26.1%.

According to data from the Foreign Investment Promotion Agency (FIPA), these investments were broken down into 727.2 MTD in foreign direct investment (FDI), up 25.6% on the same period in 2024, and 3.6 MTD in portfolio investment.

The manufacturing sector attracted almost 62% of these investments (452 MTD), with an increase of 72.3% compared with the same period in 2024.

On 16 April, the German industrial group Zollner Elektronik AG, Europe’s leading manufacturer of electronic components, announced an investment of more than 51 million dinars in Tunisia, in a high-tech project at NOVATION CITY in Sousse.

According to Markus Aschenbrenner, the new 11-hectare project aims to create around 3,400 jobs by 2030. It is part of the Group’s growth strategy in North Africa, with a focus on advanced technologies in the fields of automotive electronics, aeronautics and the digital industry.

Established in Tunisia since 2007, the Zollner Group currently has 2 production units, in Béja and the Sousse industrial zone, covering 2,100 and 2,500 m² respectively. The Tunisian site is the group’s only base in Africa, reinforcing Tunisia’s role as a regional industrial hub.

The French group ‘MECACHROME’, a reference partner of major aeronautics manufacturers and a specialist in high-precision mechanics, officially inaugurated the extension of its factory at the Mghira Aeronautics Park in Tunisia on 08 April 2025.

Born of a long-term partnership, this project is part of an ambitious vision to propel Tunisia into a new aeronautical era. This inauguration confirms that the aeronautical sector is one of the engines of growth for the Tunisian economy, thanks to a potential that has been confirmed for at least two decades and the presence of 80 world-renowned companies.

Mecachrome, an aeronautical equipment manufacturer supplying major international names such as Boeing and Airbus, has been present in Tunisia since 2010 in the Mghira industrial zone, in the governorate of Ben Arous. It currently employs 1,200 people and has three subsidiaries in Ben Arous, Sousse and Monastir.

The Italian automotive equipment manufacturer Sabelt, which employs 400 people at five sites, plans to set up a plant specialising in the production of safety devices in Tunisia, the Foreign Investment Promotion Agency (FIPA) announced in a press release published last week.
A delegation of Sabelt executives led by the company’s executive vice-president and general manager, Massimiliano Marsiaj and Giulio Graziano, paid a fact-finding visit to the country, where they met with FIPA’s general manager, Jalel Tebib, to discuss the feasibility of the project, according to the same source.
On this occasion, Mr Tebib confirmed FIPA’s readiness to ‘accompany the Italian company and support it in all the steps it needs to bring this project to fruition in Tunisia under the best possible conditions’.
Tunisia’s automotive industry comprises more than 250 companies, 67% of which export their entire production. It employs more than 100,000 people, including around 15,000 engineers, and exports are worth more than 5 billion dinars ($1.67 billion).
The sector’s development has been boosted by partnerships forged with several European countries, including France, Germany and Italy. Located at the gateway to Europe, Tunisia has created a highly attractive business environment for foreign investors in the manufacture of automotive components since the 1990s.

In 2024, Tunisia exported approximately 9.7 million pieces of professional clothing to the European market, valued at €317.7 million, with an average price of €32.66 per piece. This to confirm Tunisia’s rise to become the EU’s leading supplier of work clothing in 2024, capturing a 17.44% market share, and its position as the 4th largest supplier of jeans to the EU, with an 8.21% market share, according to recent data released by the Technical Center for Textiles (CETTEX).

This positions Tunisia as the supplier with the highest average unit price for professional clothing in the EU. However, despite remaining Europe’s preferred supplier for high-end workwear, Tunisian exports to the EU saw a 7% decline in the number of pieces in 2024 compared to 2023.

Around 76% of Tunisia’s work clothing exports are destined for three main markets: France (35.6%), Germany (30.7%), and Italy (9.7%). According to CETTEX, there is potential for growth, particularly in the German and Italian markets.

By addressing current challenges and seizing opportunities presented by new trade agreements, Tunisia could not only consolidate its role as a major EU supplier but also establish itself as an indispensable player in the international textile market.

FIPA Tunisia, Invest in Tunisia Agency, celebrated the end of 2024 under the best of auspices. This was confirmed by the FDI balance sheet published at the end of February 2025. Thanks to large-scale extensions, international investment in Tunisia reached 2956.6MTND at the end of 2024, a clear increase of 16.7% compared with 2023, 33.1% compared with 2022 and 57.5% compared with 2021. Manufacturing industries generated 61.1% of total FDI, followed by energy (23.7%), services (14.3%) and agriculture (0.8%).
The Tunisian automotive industry is doing well and continues to drive growth in inward FDI flows. In fact, five major operators in the automotive sector have started extensions to their operational sites in 2024, worth an estimated 1,000 MTND.
The flow of job-creating FDI (excluding energy) recorded in 2024 enabled 856 investment operations to be carried out, with a total value of 2220.8 MTND and the creation of 15681 new jobs.
Of these investment projects:
– 105 (12%) are creation projects worth 243.5 MTND (11%), creating 4340 (28%) new jobs, and
– 751 (88%) related to extension projects worth 1977.3 MTND (89%) which created 11341 (72%) new jobs.

The breakdown by country of the flow of job-creating FDI (excluding energy) puts France in first place with 644.2MTND, i.e. 29% of total FDI, Germany in second place with 340.2MTND and Italy in third place with 306.2MTND.The breakdown by country of the flow of job-creating FDI (excluding energy) puts France in first place with 644.2MTND, i.e. 29% of total FDI, Germany in second place with 340.2MTND and Italy in third place with 306.2MTND.La répartition par pays du flux des IDE créateurs d’emplois (hors énergie) place la France en première position avec 644,2MTND soit 29% du total des IDE, l’Allemagne est en deuxième position avec 340,2MTND, L’Italie troisième avec 306,2MTND.