“Akwaba from Côte d’Ivoire!… Zélé from Cameroon!” The 2024 edition of FITA opened in no less than five African languages, reflecting the event’s commitment to promoting African unity and cultural exchange. Tunisia, this year’s host country, is going the extra mile to make its African guests feel welcome, while also working to restore its image following the violence against sub-Saharan Africans in the country.
Bridging the Divide
“Tunisians are increasingly interested in the continent,” notes Nadia Yaich, the event’s organizer. An accountant by profession, she acknowledges that the economy has suffered from the political context. African partners have raised concerns about the deportations of sub-Saharan immigrants to the desert. However, she remains optimistic. “We need to find solutions. We are a welcoming country and we are working with several presidencies. We have historical and diplomatic relations that we want to combine with the economy today.”
Tunisian Expertise Goes Continental
At the stand of the Société nationale immobilière de Tunisie (Tunisian National Real Estate Company), Dora Aloui Bellagha, commercial director, is counting on this meeting to make her company’s experience profitable in the rest of the continent, in the face of Egyptian competition. “We have built over 180,000 homes throughout Tunisia. That’s why we are planning to start with sub-Saharan Africa because that’s where they are planning to create social housing with minimized prices.”
Côte d’Ivoire: A Land of Opportunity for Tunisians
A country where Tunisians are doing well and for which the enthusiasm remains strong, Côte d’Ivoire is home to 10,000 Tunisians and 250 companies from this North African country. “Tunisians in Côte d’Ivoire invest in construction and infrastructure,” explains Patrick M’Bengue, head of the Tunisia-Côte d’Ivoire Chamber of Commerce and Industry. “Many groups of Tunisian companies are investing in the digital field – new businesses – in energy… “. Cocoa, cashew nuts, fruits… Ivorians, for their part, are counting on commercial outlets in Tunisia.
Overcoming Barriers to Intra-African Trade
A great potential for investment between African countries is unfortunately hampered, participants at FITA point out, by administrative burdens and difficulties in accessing loans. Despite these challenges, the event has served as a platform for strengthening ties and exploring new opportunities for collaboration among African nations.