Tunisia has turned to artificial intelligence (AI) to chart its economic and social path for the next five years, marking a landmark shift in public policy planning. Mohamed El Kou, President of the Development Planning Commission, announced Wednesday that AI tools played a central role in drafting the national development plan for 2026–2030.
The plan, unveiled by El Kou during a press briefing, outlines Tunisia’s core priorities: digital transformation, legislative reform, support for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), regional equity, healthcare modernization, and the expansion of renewable energy. According to El Kou, AI analyzed extensive sectoral data to objectively identify these strategic focuses—moving away from what he described as “arbitrary political choices” of the past.
“Using artificial intelligence in planning is now a necessity. Those who fail to adapt risk marginalization,” El Kou stated. “In a rapidly changing world, Tunisia cannot lag behind. It must seriously embrace the digital shift and fully commit to it.”
He emphasized that AI is not meant to replace human decision-makers but to enhance their work within a broader vision of an “intelligent state.” The approach, he said, aims to modernize governance, boost transparency, and equip Tunisia for growing digital competition on the global stage.
The initiative comes amid a broader international debate about AI’s role in development. The World Bank has noted that AI, when guided by human-led governance, can be a powerful tool for governments—improving service delivery, increasing management efficiency, reinforcing policy compliance, and aiding in fraud detection.
Tunisia’s AI-driven development plan signals a clear step toward aligning with global innovation trends while addressing pressing domestic challenges. It also underscores a commitment to evidence-based policymaking at a time when many nations are rethinking traditional planning frameworks.
TunisianMonitorOnline (CBR)
