Female entrepreneurship is a significant asset for Tunisia. On Tuesday, November 26, 2024, the Tunisian Deposits and Consignments Fund, in collaboration with the French Development Agency (AFD) and Expertise France, held a closing ceremony for the FAST project (Women and Acceleration for Tunisian Start-ups and Very Small Enterprises) at the Palace of Letters and Arts, Ksar Saïd.
In a statement to leconomistemaghrebin.com, Anne Guéguen, the French Ambassador to Tunisia, affirmed that female entrepreneurship in Tunisia is increasingly recognized as a vital tool for economic empowerment of women and job creation, particularly in the country’s inland regions.
“Despite this, women’s participation in entrepreneurship remains low. Only 23.6% of businesses are run by women, and this figure drops to 4% for start-ups solely founded by women,” the diplomat added.
She believes that obstacles to female entrepreneurship include significant gender disparities marked by a 24% unemployment rate for women compared to 15% for men, and a largely unequal access to financing, where 83% of loans go to men.
“The FAST program has had a significant impact on start-ups and very small enterprises in Tunisia. It has facilitated the creation of 788 projects, generating over 1,800 direct and indirect jobs, more than 80% of which were initiated by women for women. The supported projects range from crafts to innovative technology, showcasing a diversity that reflects an increasing entrepreneurial dynamism in the country. Support for female entrepreneurship is also bolstered by initiatives like the Reyada program, which has enabled around 4,500 women to start their businesses and create over 7,000 jobs,” stated the ambassador.
To strengthen the Tunisian-French partnership in the entrepreneurial sector, several initiatives have been put in place. She notes in this context: “Projects like Qawafel, along with incubators like The Dot, foster a dynamic ecosystem for start-ups. Furthermore, a new credit line of 80 million euros has been signed by the AFD to support Tunisian SMEs. These initiatives aim not only to encourage business creation but also to facilitate their internationalization into the African market.”
