Summary:

On June 07, 2023, the European Bank for Development and Reconstruction (EBRD) announced the launch of a digital investment portal in partnership with the Tunisian Investment Authority (TIA).

The EBRD called the new platform a “one-stop shop” for investors that would significantly improve the investment climate in Tunisia. 

The platform reportedly includes “an interactive digital guide for investors to facilitate access to information, opportunities and incentives for business investors,” according to the EBRD press release.

EBRD First Vice President Jürgen Rigterink was present at the platform launch ceremony along with TIA CEO Namia Ayadi. The two leaders stressed the importance of their partnership for the long-term improvement of the investment environment in Tunisia.

The Minister of Agriculture, Water Resources and Fisheries, Abdel Moneim Balati, also met with Jürgen Regtrink and his accompanying team. In this meeting, the impact of climate change and its repercussions on water and food security were discussed, stressing continued support of the agricultural sector.

Outlook:  

Clarity around procedures for investing in Tunisia remain a significant barrier to entry for many investors entering the market. Policies and legal frameworks are often inconsistent, outdated, or simply poorly understood at the level at which they are executed. Providing a centralized and government-sanctioned reference point for investors will empower them within the often labyrinthine Tunisian legal and financial system.

The EBRD-TIA effort is a positive sign to facilitating simpler and more streamlined investment in Tunisia, but there remains much work to be done, particularly at the local level where the application and interpretation of policy can vary quite significantly from national-level policies.

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