Tunisian-Nordic Roundtable on Sustainable Enterprises
The Tunisian-Nordic roundtable on sustainable enterprises, held in Tunis as part of the Nordic-Tunisian Sustainable Business Roundtable 2025, brought together representatives of the Tunisian government and several major Scandinavian companies on October 8, with a common goal: to accelerate the energy transition and strengthen public-private partnerships in the renewable energy sector.
Opening Remarks
The Secretary of State for Energy Transition, Wael Chouchane, opened the session by highlighting the country's notable progress: "We have launched several contracts that have already been signed, with power plants that will come into service this year. The partnership between the state and the private sector is now a reality, and it must continue to consolidate." He also mentioned the project for the national electric backbone, a strategic investment aimed at strengthening energy transport and balancing production between different regions of the country.
Key Interventions
Among the speakers, Maha Ben Hmidane, representative of Scatec - a Norwegian company specializing in solar, wind, and hydro energy solutions - welcomed the progress made: "The path has not been easy, but Tunisia now has a more stable regulatory framework and long-term visibility that reassures investors. We are here to build sustainable partnerships, for 20 years or more." Scatec is currently developing several solar projects in the south of the country.
Technological Aspect
From a technological perspective, Karim Dridi, representative of Nokia, emphasized the role of smart grids and connectivity in the success of the energy transition. "Communication technologies, such as 5G, enable real-time network management and better integration of renewable energies. Artificial intelligence can anticipate production fluctuations and optimize consumption," he explained, referring to the group's efforts to achieve carbon neutrality by 2040.
Pharmaceutical and Industrial Sector
Nordic actors from the pharmaceutical and industrial sectors were also present. Novo Nordisk, represented by Balz Hersberger, presented its Circular for Zero initiative, a global strategy aimed at integrating the principle of circularity into all production stages, from design to recycling. "Each product must be designed to consume renewable energy and be reusable or recyclable. Sustainability is at the heart of our economic model," he stated.
Convergence of Sustainability and Innovation
Finally, Viktor Arvidsson, Director of Government Relations and Industrial Strategy, Innovation, and Strategy for Ericsson France, insisted on the convergence between sustainability, innovation, and responsibility: "We believe that technology is a key lever for achieving carbon neutrality. Before advising our partners, we must first be exemplary ourselves."
Conclusion
The event, marked by a strong spirit of collaboration, highlighted the complementarity between the technological assets of the Nordic countries and Tunisia's energy potential. As summarized by the Secretary of State for Energy Transition: "The success of this transformation relies on a triad: visibility, transparency, and speed of execution."
