The Regional Days of Sustainable Investment and Financial Inclusion kicked off in Tunisia's southern governorate of Medenine on October 6, 2026. This initiative, organized by the Southern Development Office (ODS) in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and in collaboration with regional authorities and the Financial Inclusion Observatory (OIF), aims to promote sustainable investment and financial inclusion in the region. The event brings together nearly 50 young project leaders and representatives from supporting structures, departments, and financing institutions.
The works were inaugurated by Medenine Governor Walid Taboubi at a ceremony held at the headquarters of the National Crafts Office's regional delegation. The meeting seeks to facilitate networking and dialogue between project leaders, support structures, and financial institutions. According to Amel Haddad, manager of the Southern Development Office, the event aims to highlight the potential of southern regions and their investment opportunities, particularly through the valorization of value chains.
A regional guide to project creation procedures, developed on the initiative of the Medenine Governor, has been made available to project leaders. Local guides are also being developed in various delegations. The event also features presentations on sectors with high potential in Medenine, including olive cultivation, fishing, red meat, tourism, and construction materials. Several projects related to value chain valorization, green economy, and alternative and sustainable tourism are also being showcased.
Insaf Cherif, director of the "Green Economy and Economic Empowerment of Women in Tunisia" project, emphasized the opportunities offered by the green economy and available financing mechanisms, particularly for young people and women. Raja Dahman, general director of the Financial Inclusion Observatory, recalled that financial inclusion is not limited to having a bank account but requires its effective use through deposit, credit, payment, or transfer operations.
According to Raja Dahman, in 2016, 67% of citizens had a bank account, but only 9% were active clients. The event provides a platform for stakeholders to discuss the challenges and opportunities of sustainable investment and financial inclusion in the region. Participants are also calling for the removal of bureaucratic obstacles and a rethinking of project financing to prioritize viability and credibility.
Medenine Governor Walid Taboubi stressed the need to strengthen the role of the Southern Development Office in investment engineering and promotion. The event will continue until October 7, 2026, with a follow-up to be provided to entrepreneurs who have expressed their intention to invest, with the aim of favoring the concretization of projects and stimulating private investment.
The Regional Days of Sustainable Investment and Financial Inclusion will be held successively in the six southern governorates of Tunisia. The initiative aims to promote sustainable development and economic growth in the region by supporting entrepreneurship and investment.
Key points
- The Regional Days of Sustainable Investment and Financial Inclusion aim to promote sustainable investment and financial inclusion in Tunisia's southern regions.
- The event brings together project leaders, support structures, and financial institutions to facilitate networking and dialogue.
- The initiative seeks to highlight the potential of southern regions and their investment opportunities, particularly through the valorization of value chains.
