KPIT Technologies, India’s leading mobility technology company, has just announced an investment of US$1.52 million to establish a new software engineering centre in Sfax, the capital of southern Tunisia, thereby strengthening Tunisia’s position as a regional hub for innovation, software engineering and automotive technology.
The new centre will accelerate innovation in smart mobility solutions, create highly skilled opportunities for Tunisian talent, and support global automotive OEMs across Europe – marking a significant step towards cleaner, smarter and safer mobility.
For over 20 years, KPIT has been a strategic partner to leading European car manufacturers. Its recent establishment in Sweden strengthens its global presence and will enable it to offer excellent value for money, in close collaboration with its centres in Germany, the United Kingdom, France, Italy and elsewhere. It also contributes to the expansion of its global distribution network, which covers the United States, Japan, China, Thailand, India and Tunisia.

Present in Tunisia since 2005, Visteon, the global leader in automotive electronics, is taking a new step forward in its local development. By expanding its operations, the U.S. supplier is reaffirming its ambition to make its Tunisian platform a cornerstone of its global innovation strategy.

The Tunisian automotive industry continues to demonstrate its dynamism. The American company Visteon has officially announced its intention to increase its investments in Tunisia. This expansion project, which is expected to create numerous new jobs, was the focus of a high-level meeting held this Tuesday in Tunis.
A renewed strategic partnership

The Visteon delegation, led by Executive Vice President João Paulo Ribeiro, was received by Mr. Salah Zouari, Minister of Public Works and Housing and Acting Minister of Industry, Mines, and Energy.

For Visteon’s top management, choosing Tunisia for this expansion is a strategic no-brainer. “This decision is part of our commitment to strengthening our local presence while continuing to develop smart and innovative solutions for the global automotive industry,” emphasized Mr. Ribeiro. The goal is clear: to meet the growing international demand for high-tech electronic components.
Tunisia, a land of talent and expertise

Established in Tunisia for nearly two decades, Visteon already employs 560 people there. What sets the Tunisian operation apart is the high level of qualification of its workforce: nearly 40% of the staff consists of managers and engineers, demonstrating the country’s ability to support high-value-added activities.
About Visteon

A global leader in automotive equipment, Visteon operates through 14 manufacturing facilities and 18 Research & Development centers across five continents. Specializing in smart electronic systems, climate control solutions, and lighting, the group employs more than 10,000 people and supplies the world’s leading automotive brands.

This new phase of growth in Tunisia reinforces the country’s position as a key technology hub for international investors in the automotive components sector.

A strategic asset that remains under-utilised

A global leadership that demands attention… and an opportunity to be seized
Tunisia now ranks among the world’s top countries in terms of the number of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) graduates per capita. According to the 2025 report by the UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published in partnership with the World Bank, the country has nearly 950 STEM graduates per 100,000 inhabitants, a level unprecedented on the international stage.
This exceptional standing confirms a reality that is often underestimated: Tunisia possesses one of the world’s largest pools of technical talent.

A steady rise that underscores an ambitious educational strategy
This achievement is no coincidence. It is part of an upward trajectory:
– 2018: 850 graduates (2nd in the world)
– 2020: 900 graduates (reaching 1st place)
– 2023: 920 graduates
– 2025: 950 graduates (consolidation of leadership)
Major industrial powers lag behind: South Korea (780), Germany (610), France (580), the United Kingdom (560)…
Tunisia also stands out for the proportion of STEM subjects in higher education (nearly 40%), which is significantly higher than in several European countries.
This focus reflects a strategic choice: to prepare an economy based on knowledge and technical skills.

The foundations of the Tunisian model
Three key factors account for this performance:
1. A proactive academic focus The Tunisian education system places a strong emphasis on science and technology courses, producing a large number of engineers, technicians and IT specialists every year.

2. A favourable demographic profile With a young and educated population, Tunisia benefits from a steady influx of new talent.

3. A competitive position In terms of the density of STEM graduates, Tunisia even outperforms countries that invest heavily in R&D, such as South Korea.

The Tunisian paradox: a talent pool that is poorly utilised
Despite this comparative advantage, a major challenge remains: the absorption of these skills by the national economy.
Indeed, there is a clear disconnect that poses a significant structural risk: that of seeing a strategic advantage turn into an erosion of human capital.

A key factor in attracting foreign investment
For international investors, the availability of talent is a decisive factor. Yet Tunisia has a unique advantage in this regard… one that is still under-utilised.
Without a business sector capable of absorbing these candidates, the pull factor remains limited.
Conversely, making better use of this potential could strengthen Tunisia’s position as a regional hub for engineering and innovation and as an outsourced R&D platform.

Turning this advantage into an economic driver: the priorities
To move from a talent-production model to a value-creation model, several steps are required:
1. Develop innovation ecosystems such as specialised technology parks, sector-specific clusters (automotive, IT, biotech, etc.), public-private R&D hubs…
2. Strengthen investment incentives through targeted tax breaks for R&D, increased support for innovative businesses and the facilitation of international partnerships
3. Harnessing Tunisian talent abroad through ‘brain circulation’ programmes, co-investment with overseas expertise, and the transfer of know-how
4. Make better use of this asset on the international stage by incorporating it more widely into promotional campaigns (forums, roadshows, etc.) and adopting a clear marketing positioning: Tunisia = Talent Hub

Tunisia has no shortage of talent. It produces more than most developed nations.
The real challenge, therefore, is no longer educational, but economic and strategic: to create the conditions to retain, develop and make the most of these skills.
If this challenge is met, Tunisia will undoubtedly become North Africa’s leading STEM hub

The fifth edition of Aerospace Meetings Tunisia, the international event dedicated to the development of the aerospace supply chain, will take place from 7 to 9 July 2026 in Tunis, under the theme ‘Supporting the aerospace supply chain of tomorrow in Tunisia’.
Organised by the Foreign Investment Promotion Agency (FIPA-Tunisia), in partnership with the Tunisian Aerospace Industries Group (GITAS) and international partner BCI Aerospace, this event aims to increase local integration rates in this strategic sector and consolidate Tunisia’s position as a competitive aerospace hub in North Africa.
The programme includes pre-qualified B2B meetings via a dedicated platform, plenary sessions led by international experts on technological innovation, specialised training, decarbonisation (green aviation) and artificial intelligence, as well as technical workshops covering R&D, talent management, precision machining and metallurgy. This edition introduces, for the first time, a ‘Made in Tunisia’ pavilion, providing a showcase for local SMEs and start-ups to present their innovations and expertise.
The event will bring together manufacturers, equipment suppliers, aircraft manufacturers, tier 1 and tier 2 suppliers, SMEs, start-ups, investors and institutional representatives, offering Tunisian companies a unique opportunity to integrate into the supply chains of major international players.
The Tunisian aerospace sector is experiencing sustained growth, bringing together dozens of global and local companies, generating thousands of high value-added jobs and contributing significantly to national exports. Tunisia is banking on a skilled workforce, modern industrial infrastructure, an incentive-based regulatory framework and a dynamic investment policy, supported by public institutions, to enhance its appeal.

In early 2026, the Tunisian government launched a new phase of its energy transition, placing a strong emphasis on electric mobility. The stated goal is to have 125,000 electric cars and 12,000 public charging stations by 2035. To achieve this, a new tax and financial system will came into force January 2026, accompanied by a vast plan to roll out charging infrastructure across the country.

According to the National Energy Management Agency (ANME), the main drivers of this ambitious programme would be:
✔ Total exemption from customs duties and consumption tax on imports. In addition, there will be a dramatic reduction in VAT, from 19% to 7%. This reduction is intended to bridge the purchase price gap, which is the main obstacle to the widespread adoption of these vehicles.
✔ Owners will also benefit from a 50% reduction on registration fees (vehicle registration document) and on the annual road tax sticker, thereby reducing the cost of use over time.
✔ A subsidy of 10,000 dinars is granted for the purchase of any new electric vehicle intended for public companies, local authorities and professionals. A pilot phase is primarily targeting individual taxi owners, a strategic sector in the urban landscape.
✔ The government will cover part of the interest margins applied to bank loans taken out to purchase electric vehicles. This measure aims to reduce the overall cost of the loan and encourage investment by both households and professionals.

According to local experts, behind these announcements lies a structural imperative: the transport sector weighs heavily on the national energy balance sheet. The ANME estimates that it accounts for around 30% of final energy consumption and more than a quarter of greenhouse gas emissions in Tunisia.

« The French group Asteel Flash plans to expand its activities in Tunisia through new investments with a strong technological component », announced its CEO Nicolas Denis following a working session in mid-February with officials from the Tunisian Ministry of Industry.

Based in Tunisia, where it already employs 1,400 engineers and managers, Asteel Flash plans to launch an expansion project based on the most advanced technologies in the sector. The stated objective is ambitious: to double turnover and exports while creating new jobs.
With 18 production sites worldwide, the group, which exports all of its products, generates 15% of its global turnover in Tunisia. In 2025, it recorded total international revenues of €900 million, confirming the strategic importance of the Tunisian site in its industrial operations.
During the meeting with the Minister of Industry, Mines and Energy, Fatma Thabet Chiboub, the CEO praised the quality of Tunisian skills, particularly those of engineers and senior technicians, which are considered a key driver of competitiveness.

Tunisia has nearly 150 companies operating in this field, employing around 70,000 people. Exports in this sector reached nearly 3.5 billion dinars at the end of 2024, illustrating its growing importance in the national economy. The authorities have also launched the development of a competitiveness charter aimed at increasing the sector’s added value from 22% to 40% by 2030, with the creation of 30,000 additional jobs.

Lear Corporation, a global leader in automotive seat and electronic systems technologies, has inaugurated its new Thermal Comfort Systems (TCS) manufacturing facility at PAEB Site II in Menzel Bourguiba, PAEB announced on its LinkedIn page.
These innovative technologies include active seat heating, ventilation and cooling, as well as lumbar support, massage function, steering wheel heating and presence detection.

Key figures:
– An investment of around 100 million Tunisian dinars for the construction component alone
– A 32,000 m² covered site, equipped with state-of-the-art technology and designed with safety and environmental protection at its core
– 4,500 direct jobs created once fully operational

With 255 sites in 37 countries and more than 173,700 employees, Lear Corporation is a global leader in its sector.

The German group LAPP (Lapp Holding SE), a global leader specialising in cabling, connectivity and connection technology solutions, announced at the end of December in Tunis that it would soon be opening an R&D centre in Tunisia.
The announcement was made by Michael Seddig, CEO and COO EMEA of the group, following a working session at the headquarters of FIPA Tunisia, the Tunisian facilitator for foreign investment in Tunisia.
Through this project, LAPP has chosen Tunisia as its regional platform for industrial innovation. The future research and development centre will strengthen local capabilities in advanced industrial technologies and contribute to Tunisia’s positioning in technology-intensive segments. According to FIPA-Tunisia, this investment is motivated by several key factors: a competitive business climate, the availability of highly skilled talent and an unwavering institutional commitment to investment.
This project also illustrates Tunisia’s ability to attract strategic investment in the technologies of tomorrow and consolidate its role in international industrial value chains.
With a presence in more than 80 countries and 5,800 employees across 26 international production sites, LAPP’s latest announcement further consolidates the prosperity enjoyed by the German automotive industry in Tunisia.

Visteon Corporation’s decision to invest in Tunisia was not an ordinary one, but a strategic choice confirmed by the company’s senior management at the highest level. CEO Sachin Lawande made a point of visiting in person on several occasions, travelling specially from the United States, which is rare and reflects the major importance of Visteon Tunisia within Visteon’s global system, especially as it is the group’s only centre in the Middle East and Africa region.

This direct interest on the part of senior management was not purely formal, but coincided with an unprecedented expansion in the volume of the company’s investments and activities in the country. Visteon management’s admiration for Tunisian skills, the calibre of its engineers and their ability to develop intelligent automotive software and cutting-edge technologies prompted the group to accelerate the pace of its investments since 2024 to exceed $100 million.

This expansion has resulted in the launch of an automotive software engineering centre, which currently employs nearly 200 Tunisian engineers, with a clear plan to gradually increase this number to 500 engineers over the next few years. At the same time, Visteon has expanded its factory in Tunisia to cover an area of nearly 20,000 square metres, with an estimated investment of around $85 million, to become the first factory in Africa to use cutting-edge technologies in the manufacture of smart automotive components.

CEO Sachin has led Visteon Corporation since 2015 and has transformed it into a global leader in smart cockpit technologies and software-based vehicles. The company employs approximately 10,000 people worldwide and operates in 17 countries across more than 40 sites and work centres, making its presence in Tunisia an important part of its international network of engineering, manufacturing and innovation in the smart car sector.

The German LAPP Group, a world leader in cables, wires and accessories, has announced its decision to establish a Research & Development centre in Tunisia.
In this context, a delegation from the Group, composed of CEO Michael Seddig and Vice-President Seif Allah Rached, was received by the Director General of FIPA-Tunisia, accompanied by the Senior Director in charge of promoting high value-added sectors, Hatem Essoussi.
This establishment confirms the confidence placed in Tunisia as a regional platform for industrial innovation, driven by a competitive business climate, highly skilled talent and strong institutional commitment, according to the foreign investment promotion agency’s website.
FIPA-Tunisia welcomes this new step and reaffirms its willingness to support high value-added projects, in a spirit of sustainable partnership and co-development in collaboration with the entire ecosystem and diplomatic missions abroad (Consulate General of Tunisia in Munich).
This project illustrates Tunisia’s ability to attract strategic investments in the technologies of tomorrow.