Within the framework of a growing drive to engage its diaspora in national development, Tunisia’s Central Bank (BCT) is actively working with a group of high-profile Tunisian financial experts based abroad on a potential foreign currency bond issuance planned for 2026. The initiative was announced during the second edition of the Tunisia Global Forum, held on Tuesday, July 22, as part of the Diaspora Month (July 15–August 15), organized by the ATUGE in partnership with the World Alliance of Tunisian Talents (WATT).
The forum served as a high-intensity brainstorming session that placed the Tunisian diaspora at the center of strategic discussions. Among the most concrete outcomes: renewed momentum toward issuing Diaspora Bonds, a financial tool seen as both practical and symbolic for fostering stronger economic ties between Tunisians abroad and the homeland.
Diaspora Bonds: A Noble and Strategic Objective
The Governor of the BCT set the tone by underlining the critical role of the diaspora in national development, not just as a cultural asset but as an economic engine. “All indicators point toward the need to activate the financial orbit of the diaspora,” he stated, suggesting that Diaspora Bonds could provide an attractive and transparent mechanism for investment.
Currently, remittances from Tunisians living abroad account for 30% of the country’s foreign exchange reserves, equivalent to 5.6% of GDP—a vital financial lifeline that highlights the paradox of brain drain: while Tunisia loses skills, it gains capital.
With the right financial instruments and incentives—drawing inspiration from models successfully implemented in India and Egypt—these flows could significantly increase. Diaspora Bonds, in this context, are envisioned as a “virtuous channel” to convert remittances into long-term development finance.
Strategic Expertise from Abroad
Beyond remittances, Tunisia is also tapping into the expertise of its expatriates, many of whom hold senior positions in leading global financial institutions. According to the BCT Governor, a group of four Tunisian financial experts currently occupying high-level roles in international organizations are engaged in strategic discussions about a potential sovereign bond issuance on international debt markets.
While no specifics were provided regarding the size or maturity of the bond, the very prospect signals a potential shift in Tunisia’s approach to external financing—one that prioritizes national credibility and ownership. If successful, such an issuance could mark a milestone in restoring investor confidence in Tunisia’s creditworthiness through homegrown solutions.
Reclaiming Value from Brain Drain
The broader message from the Tunisia Global Forum was clear: the diaspora is not a loss, but a latent asset. By aligning financial, intellectual, and emotional capital, Tunisia seeks to transform its global network of talents into a strategic development force. And in doing so, it could redefine the legacy of migration—not as a rupture, but as a resource.
The coming months will reveal whether these ambitions materialize into policy. But for now, the groundwork is being laid—and with it, the hope that Tunisia can chart a new course by harnessing the strength of its sons and daughters abroad.
TunisianMonitorOnline (CBR)
