At the Tunisia 2025 Business Meetings – Toward Franco-Tunisian Industrial Co-development, held on October 28, 2025, in Paris, the president of UTICA, Samir Majoul, delivered a powerful address on the future of economic partnership between the two shores of the Mediterranean.
Organized by Business France, the event brought together institutional and business representatives from both countries in a spirit of industrial cooperation and sustainable investment.
Opening the meeting, Majoul welcomed the presence of high-level French and Tunisian figures, including Anne Gueguen, France’s ambassador to Tunisia, and Dhia Khaled, Tunisia’s ambassador to France, as well as representatives from Business France, MEDEF, and the France-Tunisia Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCIT).
“It is with pride that I speak today in Paris at this business meeting organized by Business France, a symbol of the excellence of our economic cooperation and the immense potential of industrial co-development between our two countries,” he declared.
Figures That Confirm a Strategic Relationship
Majoul reminded the audience that France remains Tunisia’s leading economic partner, with €11.5 billion in trade in 2024 and 1,700 French companies established in Tunisia, employing nearly 170,000 Tunisians. France is also Tunisia’s top foreign investor, accounting for about 30% of all FDI, or roughly €190 million per year.
These figures, Majoul said, reflect a relationship of trust and complementarity:
“Our French and Tunisian companies are key players in Mediterranean integration, creating value on both shores.”
Tunisia: A Crossroads of Industrial Opportunities
According to Majoul, Tunisia’s main competitive advantages include:
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A diversified economy, with industry representing a significant share of GDP and strong performance in key sectors such as aeronautics, automotive, electronics, plastics, and technical textiles;
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Integration into French and European value chains, positioning Tunisia as a “hub of production and innovation” for French companies;
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A qualified, French-speaking workforce trained to European standards, providing a competitive edge for French and European investors;
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A strategic location in the heart of the Mediterranean—close to Europe and open to Africa—making Tunisia a key industrial and logistics platform for both regions;
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A developing technological ecosystem, particularly in artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, digital sovereignty, and energy transition, in which Tunisia aims to become an innovative partner;
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A strong presence of the French language, taught throughout the Tunisian school system, which facilitates partnerships with French and European firms and enhances the country’s appeal to Francophone investors.
Majoul stressed that Tunisia should not be seen merely as an option, but as a “strategic solution” for French and European companies seeking proximity, performance, and long-term collaboration.
“Tunisia is a land of innovation and talent, firmly oriented toward European, African, and Arab markets. It stands as a reliable and agile partner for French companies,” he said, highlighting the country’s diversified economy, robust industrial base, and highly skilled workforce.
He also emphasized the importance of digital sovereignty and artificial intelligence, two areas where Tunisia is demonstrating strong technological momentum.
A Call for Sustainable Co-development
Majoul underscored that Tunisia’s strategic position is not merely geographical—it is an economic, logistical, and geopolitical asset at the service of a Euro-Mediterranean model of industrial co-development:
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Tunisia, he reminded, sits at the heart of the Mediterranean, just hours away from major European and African capitals, a logistical proximity that gives it a decisive advantage for companies wishing to produce near their markets.
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This location makes Tunisia “a crossroads of industrial opportunities” and “a strategic platform between Europe and Africa.”
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He pointed to Tunisia’s industrial and port infrastructure, including the forthcoming deep-water port of Enfidha, a major project he described as pivotal in connecting Africa and Europe.
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Tunisia, he said, should be viewed as a complementary production base for France, capable of strengthening Europe’s industrial sovereignty and reducing dependence on Asian supply chains.
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Finally, he tied this vision to Tunisia’s historic role:
“The Mediterranean is our shared responsibility. Tunisia must once again become a center of production, innovation, and sustainability for both shores.”
Facing global economic and geopolitical challenges, Majoul called for a balanced and pragmatic approach to co-development. He stressed the need to simplify Tunisia’s regulatory framework to boost investment and enhance industrial competitiveness.
“We must adapt our economic legislation to make it attractive—not a tax haven, but a haven for investment and development,” he said.
He also welcomed the presence of Tunisian parliamentarians in Paris, underscoring their key role in reforming the Investment Code and modernizing the business environment.
Tunisian Lawmakers: Agents of Economic Reform
Majoul saluted the members of Tunisia’s Assembly of the Representatives of the People (ARP) attending the event, describing their participation as a sign of institutional commitment to modernizing the country’s economic and legal framework.
“Their presence is proof of their engagement. It is under the Assembly’s responsibility that we will improve the business climate and our legislation,” he said.
He reiterated that reviving investment requires simplifying the legal framework, particularly the Investment Code, which he described as a “gas factory” in need of overhaul.
“Our goal is to make Tunisian economic legislation not a tax haven, but a haven for investment, where transparency and growth replace administrative burdens.”
He called for collaboration between institutions, lawmakers, and business leaders to make Tunisia more competitive and attractive to international investors:
“Finance laws pass through Parliament. We must compare our regulations with those of our competitors to understand why some investors choose elsewhere—and how to keep them here.”
France’s Upcoming G7 Presidency
Majoul highlighted that France will soon assume the presidency of the G7, calling it an opportunity to promote a fairer and more pragmatic global trade policy.
“France will have the honor, during its upcoming G7 presidency, of addressing trade imbalances and industrial overcapacities that distort global competition,” he said.
He pointed specifically to China’s industrial overcapacity as a major source of distortion in international trade, urging a coordinated response among major Western economies.
“We have built industrial dependencies as a result of deliberate strategies by some economic competitors—particularly China—which heavily subsidizes certain sectors,” Majoul noted.
He emphasized that France, during its presidency, should advocate for global trade based on reciprocity and sustainability, a vision Tunisia fully shares.
“We are counting on France, in its G7 presidency, to promote an approach grounded in transparency and responsibility,” he added.
France and Tunisia: Natural Partners in the Mediterranean
Majoul recalled that Tunisia was the first country in the southern Mediterranean to sign an Association Agreement with the European Union, in 1995—a milestone that paved the way for structured economic, industrial, and trade cooperation, making Tunisia a privileged partner of the European market.
“Tunisia is a privileged partner of the European Union, having been the first southern country to sign an association agreement in 1995,” he reminded.
He also stressed that France has always been among Tunisia’s strongest supporters within the EU, particularly in consolidating this historic partnership:
“France has always been one of Tunisia’s foremost allies within the European Union,” he insisted.
For Majoul, this relationship of trust and complementarity, built since 1995, provides a solid foundation for a new era of industrial co-development—a modern cooperation based on innovation, sustainability, and shared economic sovereignty.
He reaffirmed the need to strengthen the Euro-Mediterranean industrial corridor, connecting French and Tunisian value chains, and urged French businesses to see Tunisia not as an alternative, but as a strategic solution for a more sustainable and resilient European industry.
Finally, he made a direct appeal to French investors:
“Look to Tunisia with ambition. At UTICA, we are committed to supporting every project, removing obstacles, and creating the conditions for a lasting partnership.”
He concluded with a statement that resonated strongly with the audience:
“France is a priority for Tunisia, and Tunisia must be a priority for France.”
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