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 Swedish group « Autoliv », which specialises in the manufacture of steering wheels and road safety equipment, announced last Friday that it would be setting up a new factory in Tunisia.

“Using the latest Industry 4.0 technologies, this factory will become the first and only facility of its kind in Africa, specialising in the manufacture of steering wheels using clean energy and magnesium, thus representing a model green factory.”

In Tunisia, the Autoliv Group already has two production sites, in Fahs and Nadhour, in the governorate of Zaghouan, employing more than 4,500 people.

With a presence in 28 countries across 64 production sites, the Swedish group Autoliv employs more than 56,000 people and generates profits in excess of $900 million. It produces around 7 million steering wheels per year, 4 million of which are manufactured in Tunisia and entirely destined for major brands in European markets.

The automotive components sector, which accounts for 4% of GDP, comprises around 300 industrial companies and provides more than 120,000 jobs, with added value of 40% and a growth rate of around 12%. Its exports exceeded €2.2 billion at the end of 2024.

Source: media

On Tuesday 2 December, South Korean company Yura Corporation announced the start of construction work on its fifth production unit in Kairouan, central Tunisia. Specialising in the manufacture of cables and electrical harnesses for the automotive industry, Yura Corporation is thus strengthening its presence in Tunisia, which began in 2007.

The new production site covers an area of 4 hectares, representing an investment of 50 million dinars, and will increase the company’s employment capacity to 6000 people.

Yura Corporation is a South Korean company specialising in the manufacture of cables and electrical components for the automotive industry. It supplies several major manufacturers, including Hyundai, Kia and Mercedes. The company has subsidiaries in 15 countries, including Tunisia.

Source: media

International investment in Tunisia reached 2,588.7 million Tunisian dinars (MTND) at the end of the first nine months of 2025, representing an increase of 28.1% compared to 2024, 39.7% compared to 2023 and 58.1% compared to 2022.
With 2,536.0 MTND mobilised and 11,554 new jobs created, job-creating foreign direct investment (FDI) stands out as the driving force behind this increase. Despite a 56.8% increase, portfolio investment reached only 52.7 MTND for the same period. By sector, the distribution of FDI is as follows:
– Industry: 63.6% of FDI (1,613.0 MTND)
– Energy: 19.5% (493.5 MTND)
– Services: 14.4% (366.3 MTND)
– Agriculture: 2.5% (63.1 MTND)

With 639.9 MTND (31.3% of FDI excluding energy), France confirms its status as the leading foreign investor in Tunisia, followed by Germany (294.0 MTND), Italy (242.4 MTND), the Netherlands (153.7 MTND) and the United States (108.2 MTND).

Attracting 63.6% of new FDI, the industrial sector remains the main recipient of FDI, particularly in the electrical, electronic, mechanical, textile and agri-food sectors.

During a working meeting with the Minister of Industry, Mines and Energy, Ms Fatma Thabet Chiboub, on Monday in Tunis, Eiichi Ukai, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Japanese group NTN Corporation, a world leader in the manufacture of automotive components, presented his group’s investment programme in Tunisia, where he plans to launch his first industrial project in Africa, dedicated to the production of automotive components.
Considered one of the best companies in terms of innovation and production, NTN has also secured fourth place in the global bearing market.
Founded in 1918, NTN Corporation specialises in the manufacture of shock absorbers, transmission joints and precision equipment for the automotive industry. The group has more than 207 sites in 33 countries across America, Asia and Europe, and employs approximately 22,000 people.

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.