Tunisia is working to develop its electronics industry by increasing investment in automotive and aeronautical components and the manufacture of electronic devices.
The president of the Centre des Jeunes Dirigeants (CJD), Imed Karoui, said that the center on Wednesday organized a special event entitled “CJD Talks” dedicated to the mechanical, electrical and electronic industries, underlining the strategic importance of this sector for the Tunisian economy.
Speaking to Express FM on Thursday, he pointed out that this sector ranks first among Tunisian exports, with a value of more than 10 billion dinars, and that it contributes to the creation of 400,000 direct and indirect jobs.
It also accounts for 4% of gross domestic product (GDP), making it one of the pillars of the national economy.
However, Karoui stressed that the sector faces a number of challenges, not least its dependence on the European Union, to which 80% of exports are destined, and logistical obstacles, particularly at the port of Rades (through which 95% of the sector’s exports pass).
He stressed the importance of maintaining skills in the sector.
He underscored the need to create a good business climate, accompanied by appropriate infrastructure, in order to attract investment and a large number of foreign companies.
Finally, the CJD President indicated that the CJD talks would also focus on several key economic sectors.
EMI, driving force behind Tunisia’s exports
According to official figures, the mechanical, electrical and electronic industry sector is the main driver of Tunisian exports, accounting for 46% of the country’s total exports.
Exports from this sector increased from 24,494.2 million dinars in 2022 to 28,388.7 million dinars in 2023, registering a growth of 16%, and the coverage rate increased from 81.45% in 2022 to 92.57% in 2023, bringing the trade balance from -5579.4 million dinars to -2276.4 million dinars, an improvement of around 60%.
Tunisia’s top ten markets for the mechanical and electrical engineering sector are, with their respective shares: France (31%), Germany (22.9%), Italy (15.8%), Spain (3%), Libya (2.5%), the United Kingdom (2.3%), Algeria (2.2%), Poland (2.1%), Austria (1.8%) and Morocco (1.5%).
It should be noted that Tunisia’s supply in the EMI sector still has untapped export potential, estimated at around 14.6 billion dinars, particularly for products such as spark plug wire sets, electrical conductors with connectors, aircraft, helicopter and drone parts, data reception, conversion and transmission equipment, and electricity meters.
According to the Export Promotion Center (CEPEX), six Tunisian companies specialising in various sectors of the mechanical, electrical, electronic and plastics industries recently took part in the “Global Industrie” industrial subcontracting fair in Lyon, France.
