The number of projects declared in Tunisia in the industrial sector reached 1,535 in the first half of 2022, compared to 1,730 during the same period of 2021, down 11.3%, according to the latest bulletin from the Agency for the Promotion of industry and innovation (APII).
These projects will, once their implementation is completed, create 23,495 jobs, compared to 23,331 jobs forecast by the projects declared in the first half of 2021, a slight increase of 0.7%.
Generally speaking, investments declared in the industrial sector reached 1,041.7 million Tunisian dinars (MDT), against 1,310.8 MTD, over the first six months of 2021, posting a drop of 20.5% ,
By sector, increases in reported investment in the textile and clothing (+55.4%) and leather and footwear (+63.2%) industries were recorded in the first half of 2022.
On the other hand, investments in the other sectors fell compared to the same period in 2022. These falls concerned the food industry (-20.2%), building materials, ceramics and glass (-48.5% ), mechanical and electronic industries (-10.9%), chemical industries (-64.6%) and miscellaneous industries (-23.6%).
The APII also indicated that 54% of the investments declared during the first six months of 2022 will be carried out within the framework of the extension and renewal of equipment.
Investments accounted for in the context of project creation fell from 549.4 MTD in the first half of 2021 to 484 MTD in the same period of 12022, posting a drop of 11.9%.
Investments declared in totally exporting industries fell by 27.5%, dropping from 574.5 MTD to 416.4 MTD over the first six months of 2022. The same is true for industries whose production is oriented towards the local market, which fell by 15.1%, going from 736.4 MTD at the end of June 2021 to 625.3 MTD at the end of June 2022.
Thus, 60% of the investments declared in the first half of 2022 relate to projects that are not totally export-oriented.
“The decline in investment observed in totally exporting industries is mainly due to the agro-food, mechanical and electronic, and chemical industries sectors”, specifies the APII.
Industrial investments 100% foreign or with foreign participation fell from 582.3 MTD over the first half of 2021 to 356.1 MTD over the same period of 2022, down by 38.8%, the result of the drop in 28.6% of 100% foreign investments and the 58.7% drop in investments with foreign participation.
The first six months of 2022 were marked by a 32.5% drop in investments declared in regional development zones, with 474.0 MTD against 702.2 MTD during the same period of 2021.
