Photo credit Fashion Network
The European Apparel and Textile Confederation (Euratex) and the Tunisian Textile and Apparel Federation (FTTH) signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on April 15 at the Monastir technopole in east-central Tunisia to boost collaboration between the European and Tunisian textile industries, the fashionnetwork reports.
The deal establishes a structured dialogue between both sectors and focuses on sustainability, innovation, investment and trade integration. It aligns with the revised Pan-Euro-Mediterranean Convention, which began rolling out in 2023.
Through this agreement, Tunisia aims to become a modern, circular and competitive textile hub in the Euro-Mediterranean region. The partnership also strengthens industrial ties between Tunisia and Europe. It supports a broader strategy to nearshore production, shortens supply chains, and builds a more resilient regional industry in response to rising competition from Asia.
“Even if our ways of working differ, our industries deeply complement each other,” said Euratex president Mario Jorge Machado. “At a time of regulatory change and growing environmental ambitions, collaboration is essential. This memorandum provides a practical framework to enhance competitiveness, foster innovation and strengthen the resilience of our shared textile ecosystem.”
Tunisia’s textile industry employs over 160,000 people and includes over 1,600 companies. In 2024, the country exported €2.5 billion in textile and apparel goods to the European Union, becoming the EU’s ninth-largest clothing supplier.
Euratex represents 200,000 textile and apparel companies across Europe. The industry supports 1.3 million jobs and generates €64 billion in annual exports.
The signing of the memorandum of understanding took place at the technopole in Monastir. The event brought together the regional governor, Tunisia’s minister of industry, the European Union ambassador to Tunisia, representatives from both regions’ textile sectors, and several other economic stakeholders.
TunisianMonitorOnline (NejiMed)
