Tunisia is facing mounting calls to accelerate its economic integration with the African continent and gradually reduce its heavy dependence on European export markets, officials said during the first-ever AfCFTA Forum held Wednesday in Tunis.
Gathered under the theme “Tunisia’s Hub in the Face of the AfCFTA: Opportunities and Growth,” government representatives and trade experts argued that a more proactive strategy is needed to seize the opportunities emerging from the African market.
Speaking at the event, Fakhri Bouzayen, Deputy Director of Economic and Trade Cooperation at Tunisia’s Ministry of Trade and Export Development, described the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) as far more than a simple tariff-cutting deal.
“This is not just a tariff agreement; it is a fundamental overhaul of Tunisia’s competitive advantage,” Bouzayen said, urging coordinated action among public institutions, support bodies, and the private sector.
Currently, 66% of Tunisian exports remain tied to the European market — a mature but volatile region increasingly exposed to economic shocks, he noted. Against that backdrop, geographic market diversification has shifted from a mere option to a strategic necessity.
While Tunisian exports to Africa currently account for only about 4.5% of total foreign sales, Bouzayen pointed to key strengths: a diversified export portfolio, a presence in 42 African countries, and a high level of export complexity. Those assets, he argued, offer a solid launching pad for a deeper African footprint.
Beyond merchandise trade, forum participants stressed the need for Tunisia to plug into regional value chains and prioritise the gradual liberalisation of trade in services — a move seen as unlocking new horizons for Tunisian firms.
Meanwhile, continental momentum for the AfCFTA is building. According to data presented at the forum, 25 African countries are now preparing to finalise the integration of tariff concessions into national legislation — up from just 11 currently and eight in 2022. That step, officials said, is critical to the effective rollout of the agreement’s tariff reductions.
TunisianMonitorNews
