Latest news with #APII
African Manager
27-02-2025
- Business
- African Manager
Tunisia: A virtual innovation desk for priority economic reforms
The establishment of the Virtual Innovation Desk (French: GVI) is part of the priority economic reforms aimed at boosting investment, laying the foundations for economic recovery, and transitioning to a modern development model. Indeed, the GVI will enhance the business climate, establish open governance (Open Gov), and position Tunisia as a new hub of innovation in Africa, stated the Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research, Mondher Belaid, during a National Workshop on the GVI framework organized on Tuesday by the Agency for the Promotion of Industry and Innovation (APII). For his part, Director General of APII, Omar Bouzouada, emphasized that the GVI is intended to be a digital platform aimed at unifying the efforts of all stakeholders in the field of innovation to promote networking and provide services to young entrepreneurs, innovative project leaders, and industrial companies. He added that this desk will allow users to consult programs and mechanisms for financing and technical support for innovation, as well as establish partnership programs with scientific research centers. The GVI will also enable companies, including startups, to access all services and build relationships at both national and international levels, he added. For his part, Vice-President of the Tunisian Confederation of Industry, Trade and Handicrafts (UTICA), Hichem Elloumi, highlighted the importance of innovation in strengthening the competitiveness of companies, which is now a strategic necessity for Tunisian businesses.
African Manager
17-02-2025
- Business
- African Manager
Tunisia: Reported investment in industrial sector surges by 49.6%
Reported investments in the industrial sector have increased by 49.6%, rising from 132.6 million dinars (MD) to 198.4 MD between the end of January 2024 and 2025, according to the latest Economic Outlook Bulletin published on Saturday by the Agency for the Promotion of Industry and Innovation (APII). This growth was driven by increased investments in several key sectors, including the agri-food industry (+119%, reaching 79.2 MD), mechanical and electrical industries (+460%, reaching nearly 69 MD), and various other industries (+114.6%, reaching 33.7 MD). The APII also reported a 58.7% increase in investments declared by Tunisian business leaders, amounting to 181 MD, which represents 91% of total investments as of January 1 of this year. Foreign investments, however, did not exceed 14 MD. It is also worth noting that significant growth in reported investments was recorded in development zones (+91%, reaching 67 MD) and in new ventures, specifically new projects (+44%, reaching 93 MD). According to the Economic Outlook Bulletin, these investments are expected to lead to the creation of 348 projects. One of these projects alone is set to mobilize an investment of 41.3 MD, while the investment volume for each of the remaining projects will not exceed 15 MD. Collectively, these projects are projected to create 3,649 new jobs by January 31, 2025, compared to 3,611 jobs anticipated at the same time last year.
