Tunisia's Minister of Industry Inaugurates Africa-France Forum on Ecological and Energy Transition
Tunisia's Minister of Industry, Fatma Thabet Chiboub, officially inaugurated the Africa-France Forum on Ecological and Energy Transition. During the event, the minister highlighted the importance of such gatherings in strengthening cooperation and creating synergies between Tunisia, Africa, and France in key sectors. The forum, which was attended by French Ambassador to Tunisia Anne Guéguen and numerous economic and institutional actors, showcases Tunisia's willingness to accelerate its energy transition in the face of global challenges.
Global Energy Context and Tunisia's Ambitious Strategy
The minister set the tone by recalling the current global energy context, marked by instability in hydrocarbon prices and growing concerns about supply security, exacerbated by geopolitical tensions. In the face of these challenges, combined with the urgency of climate change, energy transition has become a strategic priority for Tunisia, not only to combat climate change but also to address economic and security imperatives.
Tunisia has developed an ambitious national strategy for energy transition, focusing on renewable energy and energy efficiency. The strategy aims to develop the use of renewable energy, improve energy efficiency in all sectors, modernize electrical grids, and integrate cutting-edge technologies such as electric mobility. The main objective is to diversify the country's energy mix and reduce its dependence on natural gas-based electricity generation, prioritizing renewable energy and strengthening electrical interconnection with neighboring countries.
The Africa-France Forum: A Key Platform for Cooperation
The minister emphasized the essential role of the Africa-France Forum as a privileged opportunity to strengthen cooperation and create synergies in key areas such as unifying energy infrastructure, integrating renewable energy into grids, and smart mobility management. She recalled the deep and rich historical ties between Tunisia and France, highlighting that France is Tunisia's leading economic partner and the primary host country for French investments, with 572 industrial companies employing around 97,000 people.
African Startups: Innovation Drivers Supported by France
The minister also highlighted the central role of African startups in innovation related to renewable energy and ecological transition. Their solutions, particularly in micro-grid and energy consumption optimization, require support through co-innovation initiatives. She affirmed that France, with its expertise and the power of Business France, can play a key role in accompanying the emergence of these promising African enterprises.
Sustainable Development Perspectives
The minister expressed her conviction that the constructive debates during the forum will identify collaboration and synergy opportunities for businesses, governments, and stakeholders to succeed together in ecological transition. She expressed her gratitude to the organizers and wished participants success in their bilateral meetings, emphasizing the potential of "good business" to create jobs, wealth, and prosperity while fostering complementarity between the northern and southern shores of the Mediterranean. She concluded by stressing the importance of facilitating access to financing for companies engaged in energy and ecological transition, in order to quickly materialize investment intentions.
