AGP Executive Report

Tunisia Water Security: The Head of Government chaired a restricted ministerial council on the drinking-water system, stressing water governance and reform as a pillar for water sovereignty, national security and food security, with new legislation and measures to secure supplies across all regions. Energy Outlook: A report says Tunisia’s Ashtart oil field is set to reach “peak economic activity” in 2031, with production currently around 5,000 barrels/day and managed by SEREPT (ETAP/Perenco). Border & Health Risk: US Customs and Border Protection warned World Cup travelers to avoid prohibited agricultural items, citing a case involving a Tunisian passenger carrying 15 pounds of canned ruminant meat at Washington Dulles. Press Freedom: Reuters reports Tunisian journalist Khaoula Boukrim was sentenced to four years in absentia, with critics linking the move to a broader crackdown using cybercrime provisions. Security Operations: Tunisia’s counterterror raids earlier this year in Kasserine and near the Algerian border show security forces’ capacity to disrupt plots, while the threat persists. EU Migration Policy: An EU Q&A ahead of the pact’s full applicability on June 12 warns the new rules could weaken asylum safeguards and expand detention, despite some child-focused protections. World Cup & US Visas: Separate coverage highlights how US travel restrictions affect some qualified teams’ fans and even a Somali referee, underscoring how entry rules are reshaping tournament access.

Tunisia Governance: A small cabinet meeting chaired by PM Sarra Zaafrani Zenzri focused on speeding up the implementation of public programmes and projects, stressing better project readiness, faster procurement, and tighter execution to boost investment, growth and jobs. Tunisia Economy & Finance: Tunisia’s central bank kept its key interest rate at 7% amid inflation risks, while separate coverage points to stable inflation around 5.5% in May 2026 and a narrowing current account deficit. Phosphate & Industry: PhosCo reported another phosphate discovery at its Gasaat project, with drilling at the KH prospect intersecting thick, shallow mineralisation near the planned plant site—aimed at improving early production economics. Public Sector Restructuring: Gabès MP Thamer Mazhoud said the appointment of Omar Bouzouada to oversee both Gafsa Phosphate Company and the Tunisian Chemical Group raises questions on whether it signals a merger or just administrative unification. Digital Infrastructure: Algeria and Tunisia plan a joint submarine cable to Italy to strengthen regional connectivity and resilience. Mobility & Trade: Chery launched three hybrid models in Tunisia, while a separate report highlights Tunisia’s growing payment shift toward bank transfers and mobile payments. Regional Security & Energy: Commentary links the Strait of Hormuz disruption to wider “whole-economy” shocks, from fertiliser and industrial inputs to food and technology supply chains. World Cup Business Angle: FIFA reversed its water-bottle rules after backlash, allowing limited sealed bottles—an issue fans say affects stadium concession costs.

Public Works Push: Tunisia’s small cabinet meeting at the Kasbah, chaired by PM Sarra Zaafrani Zenzri, focused on speeding up the implementation of public programmes and projects, stressing tighter deadlines, better technical and feasibility checks before launch, and faster, simpler procurement. Auto Sector Boost: Chery, via its official dealer STA, launched three hybrid models in Tunisia—Tiggo 9 PHEV, Tiggo 4 HEV and Arrizo 8 PHEV—adding six new models in six months and pointing to strong brand momentum as Chinese makers expand their share. Mobility & Investment Climate: The government also highlighted the need to improve project readiness and execution quality to support investment, growth and jobs. Labour & Education Pressure: SAFTU in South Africa demanded urgent action over the education crisis, citing thousands of vacant teaching posts and wider school shortages—an example of how staffing and public spending gaps can quickly hit human capital. World Cup Costs Debate: Some dedicated fans say World Cup 2026 is becoming financially out of reach due to ticket prices, travel costs and visa concerns, with lighter hotel bookings reported in host cities. Tunisia-Linked Trade/Finance Signals: Separate coverage notes Tunisia’s inflation staying stable at 5.5% in May 2026 and ongoing financial and payment shifts, including more bank transfers as cheques decline.

Tunisia–EAEU Trade Talks: Russia’s Eurasian Economic Union is weighing a free trade area agreement with Tunisia, while also exploring deals with Pakistan and advancing discussions with India, with Tunisia flagged as a potential gateway to Africa. Tunisia–Finance & Payments: Recent coverage points to a shift in Tunisia’s payment landscape as cheques decline and bank transfers rise, alongside ongoing central bank policy signals (key rate held at 7%) and updates on refinancing and external balances. Tunisia–Telecom Infrastructure: ViaTunisia’s subsea cable segments report ready-for-service milestones, reinforcing Tunisia’s connectivity backbone. Tunisia–Industry & Investment: Sfax prepares for the 60th International Fair (June 9–23) expecting around 250,000 visitors and 180 exhibitors, while separate regional reporting highlights industrial expansion momentum in North Africa. Business & Growth Abroad: XPENG expands its North Africa footprint with operations launched in Morocco and Tunisia, including a large Tunisia-based sales and service center. Global Risk Watch: The Red Sea faces renewed disruption risk as the Houthis announce a ban on Israeli ships, a reminder for trade and logistics costs that matter to Tunisia’s economy.

Tunisia Trade Enforcement: Tunis regional economic control teams logged 3,173 economic violations in the first five months of 2026 after 14,300 field inspections by 737 teams, targeting smuggling, hoarding and monopolistic practices; price and monopoly breaches led the list (1,340), followed by transaction transparency issues (820) and subsidised-product manipulation (150). Tobacco Control Update: Tunisia’s Ministry of Health is drafting a law to modernise tobacco rules, extending protections to new nicotine products like e-cigarettes, tightening bans on sales to minors and advertising, and pushing awareness in schools. Sfax Fair Boost: The Sfax International Fair’s 60th edition (June 9-23) is set to draw nearly 250,000 visitors, with 180 exhibitors and a revamped pavilion layout focused on fashion, crafts and family leisure. Parliament Governance Reform: MPs’ committee work has started on a draft framework law to modernise public administration management systems, including digitalisation and faster, more transparent service delivery. Regional Business Watch: Morocco reported 7.7m tourists in the first five months of 2026 (+7%), reinforcing its push as Africa’s top destination.

Administrative Reform: Tunisia’s Parliament committee has taken up a draft framework law to modernise public administration management, aiming to boost transparency, equality and service quality through digitalisation, information systems and faster processing. Market Oversight: In Tunis governorate, economic control services recorded 3,173 economic violations in the first five months of 2026 after 14,300 field inspections, with price and monopoly breaches leading, followed by transaction transparency issues and subsidy-related diversions. Monetary Policy: Tunisia’s central bank kept the key interest rate at 7%, citing inflation risks and a “prudent” monetary stance. Payments & Trade Signals: Cheques are collapsing while bank transfers surge, and Tunisia’s payment landscape is shifting; meanwhile, the current account deficit narrowed to 1.5% of GDP by end-April 2026. Digital Economy: Mobile payments in Tunisia rose 67% in Q1, while less than 8.7% of Tunisians have made an online purchase—highlighting a gap between adoption and usage. Infrastructure & Connectivity: ViaTunisia’s subsea cable segment reached ready-for-service status, reinforcing Tunisia’s digital and telecom links. Regional Context: Morocco reported 7.7 million tourists in five months (+7%), underlining competitive pressure on North Africa’s tourism sector.

Tunisia’s Payments Shift: Tunisia’s tele-compensation system stayed stable in Q1 2026, processing 53.4bn dinars (+0.6%) across 14.7m transactions (+2.8%), but the mix is changing fast: bank transfers rose to 65% of volume, while cheques plunged 24.9% in volume and 28% in value, and direct debits jumped 26.4% in volume even as rejection rates spiked. Tunisia’s Liquidity & External Position: Refinancing fell 18% to 10.9bn dinars (June 4), while interbank transactions climbed 31.7% to nearly 4bn; reserves held at 25.4bn dinars (103 days of imports). Tunisia’s Economy Watch: The Central Bank kept the key interest rate at 7% amid inflation risks, as external pressures and policy caution remain in focus. Morocco Investment Climate: Morocco topped CIAN’s Africa business climate barometer (3.9/5), citing infrastructure, workforce quality and tax digitization—an investor signal that regional competition is intensifying. World Cup Costs & Tunisia Link: Resale ticket data for Arab teams put Tunisia around $408 on average, reflecting demand swings as the tournament nears. Regional Trade & Logistics: Libya’s Misurata Free Zone reported a China-linked cargo arrival (9,700 tonnes), underscoring growing Mediterranean transit ambitions that could matter for Tunisia-linked supply chains.

Tunisia’s Payment Shift: New Central Bank data shows tele-compensation broadly stable in Q1 2026, but the mix is changing fast: bank transfers still dominate (65% of volume), while cheques keep collapsing (down 24.9% in volume and 28% in value) and direct debits rise sharply—yet with much higher rejection rates, pointing to cash-flow strain. Tunisia’s Credit Conditions: Refinancing fell 18% to TND 10.9bn by June 4, while interbank transactions jumped 31.7% to nearly TND 4bn; reserves held at about 103 days of imports. Tunisia’s External Flows: Workers’ remittances rose to 3.6bn dinars and tourism revenues also increased, supporting the balance of payments picture. ViaTunisia Cable: The Marseille–Bizerte subsea segment reached ready-for-service, boosting direct, resilient digital connectivity between Europe and North Africa with EU co-financing. Diplomacy & Trade: Tunisia’s foreign minister received Mexico’s ambassador, stressing renewed momentum in economy, trade, education and using major sport events like the 2026 World Cup to deepen ties. Exam Integrity Pressure: Tunisia’s baccalaureate fraud debate is intensifying as cheating moves beyond paper methods toward connected tools and AI, with authorities warning of tougher penalties.

Digital Infrastructure: ViaTunisia’s subsea cable segment between Marseille and Bizerte has reached Ready for Service, moving from construction to full operations on a direct, resilient Europe–North Africa route, co-financed by the EU’s Connecting Europe Facility (CEF Digital) to boost secure, high-capacity connectivity. Monetary Policy: Tunisia’s central bank kept the key interest rate at 7% amid inflation risks and external price pressures, signaling a “prudent” stance. External Accounts: Tunisia’s current account deficit narrowed to about 1.5% of GDP by end-April 2026, while foreign exchange reserves were reported to cover roughly 104 days of imports. Trade & Industry: Tunisia’s olive oil exports surged, with reports pointing to strong export momentum and environmental value of olive groves. Business & Finance: Tunisia’s e-commerce activity hit 19.3 million transactions in 2025, and telecom sector turnover in Q1 exceeded TND 1 billion. Sports & Economy (Local angle): Tunisia’s World Cup campaign includes a Group-stage clash with Sweden (June 14), as the 48-team tournament kicks off June 11 across the US, Canada and Mexico.

Tunisia Macroeconomy: Tunisia’s current account deficit narrowed to 1.5% of GDP by end-April 2026 (2.731 million dinars), helped by stronger “invisible” flows—tourism services and steady remittances—despite a wider energy-driven trade gap. Monetary Policy: The Central Bank of Tunisia kept the key interest rate unchanged at 7% on June 3, citing inflation risks and a “prudent” stance to protect price stability and macro resilience. Corporate Watch: Société Accumulateur ASSAD reported a 14.9% revenue drop in Q1 2026, with domestic sales up but exports down sharply, alongside production and investment pullbacks and continued debt clean-up. Business & Tech: The Tunisia Africa Business Council launched ST2A, a pan-African consortium to pool Tunisian ICT, AI, cybersecurity and digital-infrastructure expertise for projects across Africa. Public Investment Push: The government reviewed progress on major projects, with a focus on faster execution, better project preparation, and tighter procurement to improve delivery across regions. Regional Business Climate: Tunisia also appears in FT’s Africa fastest-growing companies ranking, debuting in the top five with six firms.

Monetary Policy: Tunisia’s Central Bank kept its key interest rate unchanged at 7% on June 3, citing inflation risks and intensifying external price pressures. Digital Connectivity: ViaTunisia’s Marseille–Bizerte subsea segment has reached Ready for Service, boosting direct, resilient Europe–North Africa bandwidth with EU co-financing. Trade & Borders: Libya and Tunisia began implementing key free-trade provisions, including electronic certificates of origin and renewed joint customs crossings, alongside steps to curb smuggling and ease truck movement. Tourism Momentum: UN Tourism data shows North Africa arrivals up 4% in Q1 2026, with Tunisia posting +26% in March; Tunisia’s tourism revenues rose to 2,649 million dinars by end-May. Tax Administration: Tunisia’s general legislation committee reopened debate on regulating the tax adviser profession, focusing on missions, practice conditions, and implementation challenges. Energy & Industry: A report on Europe’s hydrogen push highlights the proposed SoutH2 corridor linking Algeria and Tunisia to European consumers, while underscoring the heavy electricity needs behind “green” hydrogen.

Digital Infrastructure: ViaTunisia’s Marseille–Bizerte subsea cable segment has reached Ready for Service, moving from construction to full operations on a direct, resilient Europe–North Africa route, co-financed by the EU under the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF Digital). Monetary Policy: Tunisia’s Central Bank kept the key interest rate unchanged at 7%, citing stronger inflation pressures from external factors and the need for cautious policy to protect price stability. FX Watch: Foreign exchange reserves rose to 25.5bn dinars (as of June 2), covering 104 days of imports. Trade & Borders: Libya and Tunisia began implementing key free-trade measures, including electronic certificates of origin and renewed joint customs crossings, with steps to curb smuggling and ease truck movement. Business Finance: EBRD named Nodira Mansurova as its next regional head for Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan, after leading EBRD’s Tunisia operations. Governance/Justice: A Tunis Court of Appeal detention warrant was issued against Khaled Krichi over suspected financial corruption and forged-document related charges. Health Policy: A Maghreb smoking forum in Tunis called for a unified regional strategy to cut smoking’s health and economic costs.

Monetary Policy Watch: Tunisia’s Central Bank kept its key interest rate unchanged at 7%, citing stronger inflation pressures from external factors and warning that uncertainty calls for a cautious stance to protect price stability and inflation expectations. FX & Imports: Foreign exchange reserves rose to 25.5 billion dinars as of June 2, covering 104 days of imports (up from 98 days a year earlier). Digital Connectivity: The ViaTunisia subsea cable link between Marseille and Bizerte reached Ready for Service, moving from construction to full operational availability on a new resilient route, co-financed by the EU’s Connecting Europe Facility (Digital). Regional Health Agenda: A Maghreb forum in Tunis pushed for a unified strategy to curb smoking, stressing prevention, awareness and the role of media and digital platforms. Corporate Appointments: Omar Bouzouada was installed as chairman and CEO of the Gafsa Phosphate Company and the Tunisian Chemical Group, as Tunisia seeks to revive phosphate and fertilizer production. Legal & Politics: A Tunis court issued a detention warrant against Khaled Krichi, a lawyer and former Truth and Dignity Commission member, in a corruption-related case.

Tunisia Politics: A Tunisian court sentenced Ennahda leader Rached Ghannouchi to life imprisonment in a terrorism-related case, with his deputy Ali Larayedh also receiving a long prison term, as the trial stems from complaints tied to the 2013 killings of Chokri Belaid and Mohamed Brahmi. Tunisia Education: More than 162,000 candidates will sit the 2026 Baccalaureate main session starting Wednesday, with exams running June 3-10 and results expected on June 23; nearly 6,000 exam centers are mobilized. Tunisia Business & Finance: Tunisia’s money market rate held steady at 6.99% in May for the fourth straight month, while telecom sector turnover in Q1 2026 exceeded TND 1 billion. Agriculture & Trade: South Africa is stepping up its foot-and-mouth disease response, adding millions of vaccine doses to protect livestock and safeguard export markets. Infrastructure & Connectivity: ViaTunisia, the subsea cable link between Marseille and Bizerte, has been declared ready for service, supported by EU funding. Regional Development: The EBRD named Nodira Mansurova as regional head for Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan, with prior experience including leading the bank’s Tunisia operations.

Tunisia Exam Season: 162,435 candidates will sit the 2026 Baccalaureate main session starting Wednesday, June 3, with 5,988 exam centers mobilised nationwide and results due on June 23. Agriculture Finance: The Central Bank of Tunisia set rules to reschedule drought-affected farmers’ loans (2023-24 and 2024-25 seasons), excluding irrigated areas and covering certain seasonal and investment loan instalments over up to five years. Regional Trade & Investment: Tunisia will host the 7th COMESA Women in Business Trade Fair and Conference (July 1-3) at UTICA, aiming to connect women entrepreneurs with financing and partners across 21 COMESA countries. Business Deal-Making: The Tunisia-Africa Business Council and TUCAD launched a Permanent Deal Room, a year-round platform to match African project promoters with investors and financiers in sectors like energy, logistics, healthcare and agribusiness. Visa Consumer Push: OTIC’s Lotfi Riahi says outsourcing consular services has added fees and delays, and announced the “Tunis Declaration” to demand transparency and fairer visa-service practices. Health & Work: Tunisia recorded a 25.1% rise in occupational diseases in 2023, with musculoskeletal and respiratory conditions dominating, especially in the textile Sahel hubs. Corruption Case Update: Businessman Hatem Chaabouni was released after depositing a 60 million dinar financial guarantee.

Tunisia’s Olive Oil Export Surge: Tunisia exported about 295,400 tonnes of olive oil in the first half of the season, up 63.9%, with value rising to roughly TND 3.6bn (from TND 2.4bn), as Europe remains the main buyer at 56.5%. Tax Deadlines: Tunisia’s General Directorate of Taxes published its June 2026 calendar, including key dates for monthly returns and payments (June 15 for individuals; June 22 for online-registered legal entities) plus corporate income tax and wealth tax deadlines at the end of the month. Korea-Africa Business Push: In Seoul, South Korea’s foreign minister held talks with Tunisia and other African counterparts, while Tunisia’s FM Mohamed Ali Nafti urged a “fair cooperation” model and deeper trade, technology transfer and infrastructure financing. Korea-Libya Trade Angle: South Korea asked Libya to back a bigger role for Korean firms, especially in oil and refining, with Seoul also signaling the full reopening of its Libya embassy. World Cup Economics & Integrity: Coverage highlights the World Cup’s economic stakes and the risk of match-fixing, alongside reports that ticket prices may vary sharply between high-demand and lower-profile games. Fuel Pricing Watch (North Africa): Diesel prices in Tunisia and Algeria stayed stable since late February, while Morocco’s diesel remains above pre-war levels despite a recent dip.