Rebuilding the Potential of Tunisian Firms

The World Bank Group today released its annual Tunisia Economic Monitor, which provides timely, comprehensive assessments of current economic trends in Tunisia and analysis of the country’s broader development challenges.  Tunisia is expecting a sharper decline in growth than most of its regional peers, having entered the COVID-19 crisis during a period of slow growth and rising debt levels. After an expected 9.2 percent contraction in 2020, growth is expected to temporarily accelerate to 5.8 percent in 2021 as the pandemic’s effects begin to abate. However, pre-existing structural weaknesses are expected…

Minister of Communication Technology and Digital Economy receives “Tounes Tountej” organisation

Minister of Communication Technologies and Digital Economy Fadhel Kraiem received on Monday in Tunis a delegation of the national organization “Tounes Tountej” (Tunisia Produces). The meeting focused on means of backing up the digital economy by emerging companies and cyber security and information on young talent Technology. The Tunisian experience found in the world’s largest companies, and the promotion of a culture of work, positive action and production were also discussed during the meeting, underlining that Tunisia  today has a real potential of young and talented people in the digital…

Ashoka Fellow Meher Khelifi journey to break down social insurance barriers: “I want to help every single woman that has no social or health coverage”

Meher Khelifi, newly elected Ashoka Arab World Fellow and founder of Ahmini, shared with us his first reactions to becoming an Ashoka Fellow, the challenges he faced along the way, and his experience pursuing social security coverage for women in rural Tunisia. Meher Khelifi experienced first-hand the devastating consequences of being uninsured in Tunisia when his mother, Fatema, passed away in 2016. Fatema was  uninsured and therefore untreated for what was later diagnosed as cancer. After this life-changing experience, Meher was convinced that no woman should ever go through the…

JICA launches a study on the massive integration of renewable energies

The Tunisian branch of the Japanese International Cooperation Agency (JICA) has just announced the launch of a study in the renewable energy sector. The initiative is part of the cooperation between Japan and the Tunisian government in the renewable energy sector. Relying mainly on solar and wind energy, the North African country intends to produce the equivalent of 3,500 megawatts (MW) in ten years, afrik21 reports. The Japanese-Tunisian cooperation on renewable energies is entering the operational phase. A study programme in the energy and renewable energies sector has just been…

Hult Prize ESSEC: Our goal is, and will always be leading a generation to change the world

Hult Prize ESSECT comes back with its fourth edition with this year’s challenge: FOOD FOR GOOD. The winner of this year’s competition will have a spot at the regional summit, hosted in more than 27 different countries around the world, said Bilel Hechmi Communication Manager of Hult Prize ESSEC Tunis. Bringing together people from different cultures and backgrounds; it offers you the opportunity to showcase your innovative ideas, learn from your peers, to inspire and be inspired by a generation of young leaders determined to change the world through their…

Tunisia’s first-ever open data hackathon taps into digitalization’s potential for greater development impact

The role of government is rapidly evolving, and open data has the potential to be an important impetus of this change. With this in mind earlier this year Tunisia’s first-ever national open data hackathon, brought together 170 participants comprising 38 different teams with the support of the World Bank. Co-creating problem-driven solutionsIn preparation for the hackathon, transport, culture and health government representatives identified issues that could be solved using data and technology. Moez Guerfal, a hackathon participant, said: “We have been working as a team and have learned to share ideas and…

Tunisia to host 8th TICAD meeting in 2022

Tunisia will host the 8th meeting of the 2022 Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD), Japan’s Foreign Minister said Wednesday. Toshimitsu Motegi held official talks in Tunisia, the first stop of his tour, which covers four countries in Africa due to end on December 14. Speaking at a meeting with the press in Tunisia, Motegi emphasized the importance of strengthening relations between Tokyo and Tunis. The two countries agreed to further improve their business climate in terms of investment and taxation, Motegi said. Tunisia is the second African country…

379 startups now labelled “Startup Act”

Twenty-six startup labels have just been awarded by the Ministry of Communication Technologies. This brings the total number of labels awarded to 379 as part of the Startup Act program. These startup labels award took place during a virtual ceremony held on Tuesday, December 8, the Ministry of Communication Technologies announced. During the period from April 2019 to April 2020, 248 labels were awarded out of 416 applications with an acceptance rate of 70%. Moreover, they generated a cumulative turnover in 2019 of 66 million dinars, including 72% carried out…

Qatar Airways announces sponsorship of Tunisian tennis player Ons Jabeur

Qatar Airways announced a new sponsorship agreement with top Tunisian WTA tennis player Ons Jabeur. The partnership will see the Qatar Airways logo appear on Jabeur’s clothing at major tennis tournaments during 2021, Gulf-Times reports. Qatar Airways Senior Vice President Marketing and Corporate Communications, Salam al-Shawa, said, “We are excited to welcome Ons to the Qatar Airways portfolio of top sport partnerships as Brand Ambassador. Ons is a talented, hardworking sportswoman and we look forward to supporting her goal of breaking into the world’s top 30 women’s tennis players.” Jabeur…

MoU to improve refugee assistance inked between Tunisia and UNHCR

Tunisia and UNHCR signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on December 2 to improve the inclusion of vulnerable refugee and asylum seekers in making the most of state assistance services. This MoU will be implemented through a partnership between UNHCR and the Tunisian Union for Social Solidarity (UTSS) and will enable better access to reception services and temporary lodgings run by the ministry in Tunis, Sfax, and Sidi Bouzid, as well as the distribution of clothes for vulnerable refugees, asylum seekers, and Tunisian host communities. The collaboration between UNHCR and…