Foreign direct investment (FDI) in Tunisia

FDI in Figures

In the context of social and political turmoil, FDI flows to Tunisia remain below their potential. According to UNCTAD's World Investment Report 2023, FDI inflows to Tunisia increased 8% y-o-y in 2022, totalling USD 713 million. The stock of FDI reached USD 39.4 billion, around 84.7% of the country’s GDP. According to the latest data by the Tunisian Investment Office, at the end of the first nine months of 2023, international investments in Tunisia reached the amount of TND 1,862.1 million. Compared to the past three years, these investments have recorded variations of 13.1% compared to 2022, 34.6% compared to 2021, and 36.0% compared to 2020. During the same period, FDI was distributed as follows: 20.3% for energy, 58.9% for manufacturing industries, 20.4% for services, and 0.4% for agriculture. The breakdown by country places France in the lead with TND 444.8 million, representing over 32% of the total FDI excluding energy. Following are Qatar with TND 282.2 million, Italy with TND 184.9 million, Germany (120.4), and Switzerland with (40.6). The regional distribution confirms a great disparity among regions: more than 51.3% of FDI is concentrated in the Greater Tunis regions (mainly the governorate of Tunis) and in the Northeast region (25.6%).

The key assets of Tunisia are its proximity to Europe, sub-Saharan Africa and the Middle East, free trade agreements with the EU and much of Africa and an educated workforce. In recent years, the Tunisian government has carried out necessary structural reforms to improve Tunisia's business climate, including an improved bankruptcy law, an investment code and an initial 'negative list' and a law allowing for public-private partnerships. The government adopted laws allowing to start a business more easily (more services are available via the one-stop shop, and fees decreased); registering property is now faster and more transparent and paying taxes is easier (implementation of a risk-based tax audit system). Nevertheless, there are still huge bureaucratic barriers to investment. State-owned enterprises are a major player in the Tunisian economy and several sectors remain closed to foreign investment. The informal sector, estimated at between 40% and 60% of the overall economy, is still a concern since legal businesses are forced to compete with smuggled goods. Moreover, the country is facing high political and social instability, unemployment, inflation, and rising levels of public debt. Tunisia ranks 79th among the 132 economies on the Global Innovation Index 2023 and 150th out of 184 countries on the 2023 Index of Economic Freedom.

What to consider if you invest in Tunisia

Strong Points

Advantages for FDI in Tunisia:

• The solvency of the country gives it access to international capital markets and allows it to find its place in the world economy
• The growing diversification of the economy (tourism, mining production developed in phosphates and oil sectors, etc.) strengthens its resistance to economic crises
• Support from the IMF and other international institutions
• The economy can rely on a young, fairly skilled and productive workforce at competitive pay levels
• The country's proximity to the European market and its association agreement with the EU: the capital city Tunis is, on average, two hours flight from the main European capitals
• The social system is well developed and an ambitious education policy has been launched; it aims to reduce the social cost of adjustment and strengthen the modernisation of the country
• The political transition has been gradual and relatively peaceful (in comparison with Egypt and Libya, for example), creating a generally positive business environment
• The country is rich in natural resources, including phosphates and hydrocarbons.

Weak Points

Disadvantages for FDI in Tunisia:

• Economic reform in Tunisia has not kept pace with political reform since the revolution of 2011
• Issues of corruption and nepotism
• High social and geographical inequalities, which may be exacerbated after the COVID-19 crisis
• Prohibitive customs and tax regimes continue to pose barriers to small and medium-sized enterprises
• Structural imbalances in the public and external accounts, with a significant increase in external debt
• State-owned enterprises still play a large role in Tunisia’s economy; many sectors remain closed to foreign investment
• The informal sector is large (estimated at 40-60% of the economy by the U.S. State Department)
• The high level of youth unemployment, as well as unemployment among those with university degrees (about a third of the unemployed), are seen as potential risks to social and economic stability
• The country's high public debt and the great dependence on the European economy make the Tunisian economy vulnerable.

Government Measures to Motivate or Restrict FDI

Over the last few decades, Tunisia has chosen to further liberalise its economy and to integrate it into the world economy. A new competition law cancelled previous provisions that fixed prices, limited the entry of companies into certain sectors and controlled production, distribution, investment, etc.
Furthermore, Tunisia adopted a new investment law that simplifies the procedures for obtaining licenses, permits and investment authorisations and limits restrictions on the hiring of foreign workers. The law created the High Investment Board as a central body to replace the multitude of administrative bodies that previously issued these required documents. The hiring of foreign workers is also made easier by this law, adding an element of flexibility to what are otherwise the most rigid labour market regulations in the MENA region. Other initiatives include a new bankruptcy law, an investment code and a law enabling public-private partnerships. The Tunisian Parliament also passed law 2019-47, which contains 38 amendments to address shortcomings in existing laws and regulations that impeded investment.

Tunisia has free trade zones (known as Parcs d’Activités Economiques) in Bizerte and in Zarzis, where companies are exempt from taxes and customs duties and benefit from unrestricted foreign exchange transactions. The production in these zones has limited duty-free entry into Tunisia for the purpose of transformation and re-export.

Further information is available on the Foreign Investment Promotion Agency (FIPA) website.

Bilateral investment conventions signed by Tunisia

To see the list of investment treaties signed by Tunisia, consult UNCTAD's International Investment Agreements Navigator.