Announcement of the Tunis Declaration 2025
Today, we announce the Tunis Declaration 2025, the result of a broad international consensus. This strong and structuring announcement was made by Sofiene Hemissi, Minister of Technologies, to mark the opening of the Artificial Intelligence Summit towards the Future 2025. From the first minutes, the tone was set: Tunisia intends to play a decisive role in the global transition to an intelligent society.
Introduction to the Tunis Declaration 2025
The Minister recalled that this declaration comes at a time when the world is celebrating the 20th anniversary of the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS). "We are now moving from an information society to an intelligent society," he affirmed, emphasizing that this evolution is both a technological turning point and a civilizational change.
Tunisia's Role in the Global Transition
In addition to this historical dimension, the Minister emphasized Tunisia's unique role in this process. Thanks to its human skills, recognized universities, dynamic startup ecosystem, and innovation opportunities, the country is positioning itself as a strategic hub between Africa, Europe, and the Mediterranean. According to him, "Tunisia has the real conditions to become a regional center for innovation and artificial intelligence."
The Legacy of the WSIS
The Minister then discussed the legacy of the WSIS, which he described as "a historic turning point in the construction of global digital governance." This summit, he recalled, allowed for the anchoring of key principles such as equitable access to technologies and multilateral cooperation between governments, international organizations, and the private sector.
The Challenge of the Digital Divide
However, he emphasized that a major challenge persists: the global digital divide, which still keeps over two billion people out of the network. Reducing this gap becomes a fundamental priority to ensure a fair and inclusive digital transformation.
Artificial Intelligence: A Driver of Development
The Minister then addressed artificial intelligence as a determining phenomenon. For him, "AI has gone beyond the experimental stage: it is now a driving force for economic and social development." Thus, Tunisia considers that the future of this technology must be based on clear principles:
- Human-centered
- Digital sovereignty
- Cybersecurity
- Reduction of inequalities
- Ethical and responsible governance
Investing in Human Capital
In addition, he recalled that building a true intelligent society cannot be done without massive investment in human capital. The country is therefore committed to an ambitious national strategy to develop digital infrastructure, support research, encourage entrepreneurship, and improve public services through AI.
Tunisia as a Regional Hub for AI
Thanks to its geographical position, the quality of its engineers and researchers, and the vitality of its innovation ecosystem, Tunisia has, according to the Minister, all the cards to become a major regional player in the field of AI. "Our ambition is clear: to make Tunisia a regional center for the development of artificial intelligence solutions," he affirmed.
Conclusion
However, he recalled that this ambition must remain inseparable from a vision of digital justice and inclusion, so that no one is left behind in the digital transformation. The central announcement of his intervention, the Tunis Declaration 2025, marks "a new stage in the transition from the information society to the intelligent society."
