African Perspectives: Weaving Links for the Future

On the occasion of International Africa Day, the African Council of Young Francophone Entrepreneurs of Tunisia (CAJEF) organized a meeting on May 24th at Startup Village, titled "African Perspectives: Weaving Links for the Future".

Unity and Self-Confidence

During the meeting, the importance of African unity was emphasized, particularly by CAJEF Tunisia President Slimane Bousrih. The idea defended is that the African continent is not poor, but rather impoverished.

Riadh Ben Youssef, a doctor and Executive Director of "La Maison Africaine de la Chéchia", a local company promoting Tunisian chéchia, highlighted the major weakness of Africans, including Tunisians, which is the lack of self-confidence and not seeing themselves as reliable partners. He stressed that Tunisians should stop seeking opportunities in Europe and instead turn to their African neighbors. He added that true wealth lies in the southern countries.

Regional Cooperation and Opportunities

Habib Chabbouh, General Manager of "Maison de l'Artisan", mentioned that he works with two essential countries, Algeria and Libya, and that 80% of the company's revenue comes from these countries. However, he emphasized the importance of looking towards the rest of Africa, as the continent has over 1 billion inhabitants, representing 17% of the global population.

Artisanal Sector and Economic Contribution

It is worth noting that the artisanal sector employs 11% of Tunisia's active population and contributes 4% to the country's GDP.

Valuing Resources and Overcoming Obstacles

Ahmed Taktak, CEO of "Poslik", a connected cash register system for the restaurant ecosystem, defended the view that Africa must learn to valorize its resources and eliminate laws that hinder business, citing the example of Tunisia, where the exchange code blocks entrepreneurs from exporting their products.

Challenges and Opportunities in Africa

Sabri Daassi, Country Manager of PROBOUTIK, revealed that 90% of all transactions in Africa are still made in cash, and over 35% of purchases on the continent are made through loans.

Student Projects and Entrepreneurial Spirit

The event was an opportunity for several sub-Saharan students to present their project ideas, including Eliote Tshimbadi from the Democratic Republic of Congo, who presented his project related to waste management.

Upcoming Event: International Food Show Africa

Moderator Nizar Ben Salem reminded attendees that the International Food Show Africa (IFSA), a salon on entrepreneurship in Africa, will take place at the Kram Exhibition Park from July 3rd to 5th.