Tunisia's Export Promotion Center has completed a series of consultative meetings with various professional and economic structures. These meetings aim to prepare the center's promotional program for 2027. The program focuses on identifying priorities for promoting Tunisian exports, enhancing support for exporting institutions, and developing the presence of national products and services in foreign markets. The meetings were held with the Tunisian Union of Small and Medium Industries, the National Organization of Entrepreneurs, and the Tunisian-African Business Council.
The meetings, which took place on October 21 and 30, 2026, focused on supporting small and medium-sized enterprises. The goal is to enable these enterprises to overcome difficulties in accessing foreign markets. The discussions emphasized the importance of providing updated economic and trade information on promising markets and export opportunities. The center also reviewed its structural programs, including the restructuring of the Export Promotion Fund. This restructuring aims to improve the effectiveness of support mechanisms and simplify procedures for exporting institutions.
The Export Promotion Center presented its "Start Export by CEPEX" program. This program, launched in 2026, aims to develop the export capacities of Tunisian enterprises. It also provides support for these enterprises to transition from the export preparation phase to actual access to foreign markets. Another program, "Easy Export," was also presented. This program, developed in coordination with the Tunisian Post, facilitates the sending of postal parcels to foreign markets. This program is particularly beneficial for enterprises operating in the agriculture, food industry, traditional industries, and start-ups.
The consultative meetings also addressed the challenges faced by enterprises. These challenges include difficulties in accessing financing, guarantees, and insurance. Other challenges include high transportation and shipping costs, as well as difficulties related to establishment procedures abroad. The center emphasized the need to strengthen coordination between different stakeholders. This coordination aims to develop practical proposals to overcome these obstacles.
The center also discussed intensifying information days and awareness campaigns in various regions during 2027. The goal is to bring the center's services closer to enterprises and inform them about available support and promotion programs. The center reviewed its sectoral promotional activities. These activities include promoting Tunisian olive oil and dates.
Strengthening the presence of Tunisian enterprises in African markets was a key topic of discussion. A working session with the Tunisian-African Business Council on October 16, 2026, focused on developing coordination between the two parties. The session also explored opportunities to intensify cooperation in organizing economic and trade events in Tunisia and abroad.
The Export Promotion Center's efforts aim to support the export sector and accompany Tunisian enterprises in their international expansion. The center's initiatives are part of a strategic approach to consolidate partnerships with various components of the national export system. This approach seeks to unify efforts and optimize available resources to prepare a 2027 promotional program that responds to enterprise priorities and targets promising export sectors.
Key points
- The Export Promotion Center's 2027 program focuses on supporting small and medium-sized enterprises and promoting Tunisian exports in African markets.
