Summary:

On 3 June 2026, Tunisian Minister of Economy and Planning Samir Abdelhafidh met with representatives of French aerospace group Safran to review the company’s activities in Tunisia and discuss its development outlook for the coming years.  

During the meeting, Safran presented its 2027–2030 strategic plan for its Tunisian operations, outlining its intended expansion and industrial development framework. The three-year plan includes new factory space and a 16% increase in the local workforce with nearly €40 million in investment expected. 

The discussions were attended by Safran’s Director for Africa and the Middle East and the Managing Director of Safran Tunisia, who provided an overview of the group’s current operations and future priorities in the country. The Tunisian authorities welcomed the strategic plan, emphasizing support for high-value and technology-intensive investments. 

Safran currently operates three production sites in Tunisia and employs around 3,300 people, producing aeronautical components such as aircraft seats, wiring systems, and ventilation equipment for international clients across multiple markets. 

Outlook: 

The announcement reinforces the perception of continuity and stability in Safran’s operational environment in Tunisia, reflecting an interest in maintaining a long-term industrial presence rather than expanding into new structural or jurisdictional commitments at this stage. The new investment is a welcome vote-of-confidence in the Tunisian market at a moment when the country faces layers of overlapping economic pressures, including rising prices and underemployment. 

The development also aligns with Tunisia’s broader reliance on established foreign industrial actors to sustain employment and export-oriented manufacturing activity within existing production zones. 

The sustained engagement of European aerospace groups like Safran in North African production zones reflects a wider trend of value-chain fragmentation, where cost-competitive manufacturing bases remain embedded in global aerospace supply networks rather than evolving into standalone industrial hubs.

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