Tunisia targets $518mm in untapped export potential to Sub-Saharan Africa

Tunisia aims to unlock an additional $518 million in untapped export potential with sub-Saharan Africa, a strategic move designed to bolster its presence within African value chains.

This initiative underscores Tunisia’s ambition to forge enduring economic ties across the continent.

Tunisian Minister of Trade and Export Development, Samir Abid, highlighted that Tunisia, a member of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) since 2018, saw its trade with sub-Saharan countries reach $550 million by 2024, with exports accounting for $425 million. This represents an impressive average annual growth of 9.7 percent over the past decade. Minister Abid emphasized the critical need to translate this progress into tangible partnerships, advocating for enhanced South-South cooperation, market diversification, and expanded industrial integration.

The initiative was showcased at an event organized by CEPEX, which convened over 150 economic stakeholders. This included 85 Tunisian companies, alongside representatives from 13 African nations and five continental trade promotion organizations. Chambers of commerce, diplomatic missions, and donor organizations were also in attendance, signaling broad support for Tunisia’s deepened engagement with the sub-Saharan African market.

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