AGP Executive Report

Specialty Materials: Selenis says its production network, which includes Tunisia, will exceed 200,000 tonnes of annual specialty copolyester capacity by 2028 after acquiring assets in Greece for installation in Portugal. Research Recognition: Tunisian cybersecurity researcher Dhikra Mahmoud won the 2026 L’Oréal-UNESCO For Women in Science France Award. Digital Infrastructure: Orange Tunisie and Focus are joining forces to offer locally hosted cloud services, giving businesses more control over data and access to local technical support. Innovation: Tunisia is among Africa’s top performers in the 2026 Global Innovation Index, ranking first worldwide for science and engineering graduates and 12th for scientific publications. Water & Agriculture: Researcher Hussein Rhili says agriculture uses 77% of Tunisia’s annual water, and calls for action on irrigation losses and a rethink of water-intensive export crops. Health Technology: Tunisia’s digital hospital project is taking shape, signaling a push to bring more healthcare services online.

Research Recognition: Tunisian researcher Dhikra Mahmoud won the 2026 L’Oréal-UNESCO For Women in Science France Award for her work in cybersecurity. Innovation: Tunisia ranked among Africa’s innovation leaders; WIPO highlights its top global ranking for science and engineering graduates and 12th place for scientific publications. Local Cloud: Orange Tunisie and Focus are partnering to offer businesses locally hosted cloud services, with greater data control, security and local support. Digital Health: A digital hospital taking shape in Sfax aims to bring specialists closer to patients. Water and Agriculture: Tunisia is seeking ways to curb water losses from dams, as researcher Hussein Rhili urges a rethink of agricultural production amid water stress and ageing irrigation networks. Industry Links: A Tunisia–South Korea forum will explore automotive technology, electronics, mechatronics and research partnerships.

Local Cloud: Orange Tunisie and Focus are teaming up to offer businesses cloud and infrastructure services hosted in Tunisia, with local support and greater control over data. Automotive Technology: A Tunisia–South Korea business forum will explore partnerships in vehicle components, electronics, mechatronics, industrial equipment and R&D. Digital Health: A digital hospital initiative in Sfax aims to bring specialists closer to patients. Water Management: Tunisia is seeking modern ways to reduce water losses from dams. Industrial Growth: German automotive supplier Kromberg & Schubert has opened a second plant in Béja, while Italy–Tunisia talks in Tunis focused on AI and energy efficiency.

UN-Habitat Housing Recognition: UN-Habitat presented the 2026 Scroll of Honour Award to five winners at World Habitat Day in Muscat, including Tunisia’s Abdelmalek Ghanem, highlighting “Adequate Housing for All” and approaches from affordable building materials to support for displaced communities. Tunisia–Cloud Expansion: Orange Tunisia and Focus Tunisie are partnering to expand locally hosted cloud and infrastructure services for Tunisian firms, focusing on data control, security, performance and local support. Tunisia–South Korea Business Link: Tunisia will host a delegation of South Korean companies and institutions on Oct 12 to boost industrial, technological and trade ties, with a spotlight on automotive components, electronics, mechatronics, R&D and software solutions. Tunisia Digital Health: Tunisia’s digital hospital is taking shape, aiming to bring more connected care and specialist access. Science & Health Careers: Tunisia’s Health and Higher Education ministries announced a dentistry resident-doctor recruitment exam starting Dec 4 in Monastir, with 45 positions across specialties. AI Governance in Africa: A new discussion on AI governance in Africa stresses accountability, rights, access and implementation gaps, noting Tunisia among countries with national AI strategies.

Cloud & Data Sovereignty: Orange Tunisia partnered with Focus Tunisie to expand locally hosted cloud and infrastructure services for Tunisian firms, focusing on data control, security, performance, and local support. Water Security: Tunisia’s Water Observatory warns dam evaporation is a major loss (650,000–750,000 m³/day at 28°C) and pushes modern fixes like photovoltaic panels to cut evaporation, alongside better dam maintenance. Health Workforce: Tunisia’s Health and Higher Education ministries announced a competitive exam to recruit dentistry resident doctors (45 positions) starting Dec 4, 2026 in Monastir. AI Governance in Africa: A new policy discussion highlights the implementation gap in national AI strategies (including Tunisia) and stresses accountability for who is responsible when AI systems fail. Energy & Industry: German supplier Kromberg & Schubert opened “Beja 2” in Tunisia, investing ~TND 300m and planning workforce growth up to ~7,500 by 2029. Housing & Cities: UN-Habitat’s Scroll of Honour named Tunisia’s Abdelmalek Ghanem among 2026 winners for work advancing adequate housing and sustainable urban development. Telecom Hiring: Tunisia’s National Telecommunications Authority announced an external recruitment drive for six roles across engineering, IT, legal administration, accounting, and security.

Tunisia Water Tech: Tunisia is looking at modern ways to curb dam water losses, with experts warning evaporation can reach 650,000–750,000 m³ per day at 28°C and proposing pilots like using photovoltaic panels to reduce evaporation. Health Workforce: Tunisia’s Health and Higher Education ministries announced a dentistry residency recruitment exam (45 posts) starting Dec 4, 2026 in Monastir, with a small share reserved for senior practicing general dentists. AI & Public Services: Tunisia’s digital hospital is taking shape, while the Finance Ministry moves to integrate AI into taxation, customs and accounting. Telecom Jobs: Tunisia’s National Telecommunications Authority plans an external recruitment drive for six roles across engineering, IT, legal administration, accounting and security. Science & Education: Ez-Zitouna University in Tunis is highlighted among Africa’s oldest universities, tracing educational origins to the 8th century. International Research: The Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine goes to optogenetics pioneers Karl Deisseroth, Peter Hegemann and Georg Nagel, advancing light-controlled neuron research. Energy & Industry: German supplier Kromberg & Schubert inaugurates “Beja 2” in Tunisia, aiming to grow its workforce to 7,500 by 2029.

Digital Health in Tunisia: TeleHealth Connect Tunisia 2026 is underway in Tunis, pushing telemedicine and wider access to care, while debating data protection, AI governance and cybersecurity; a “Tunis Declaration” is expected at the end of the conference. Water & Infrastructure: Tunisia’s Water Observatory warns dam evaporation is a major drain—650,000 to 750,000 m³/day at 28°C—and calls for modern fixes like photovoltaic panels to cut losses. Healthcare Workforce: Tunisia’s Health and Higher Education ministries announced a credential-based exam to recruit dentistry resident doctors (45 posts) starting Dec 4, 2026 in Monastir. Energy & Industry: German supplier Kromberg & Schubert opened “Beja 2” in Tunisia, investing nearly TND 300 million and planning workforce growth to about 7,500 by 2029. Housing & Cities: UN-Habitat presented the 2026 Scroll of Honour to winners including Tunisia, highlighting innovative and affordable housing solutions. Recruitment: Tunisia’s National Telecommunications Authority (INT) launched an external recruitment drive for six specialized roles, with Oct 22 as the application deadline.

Tunisia Digital Health: Tunisia is pushing telemedicine and safer digital care through “TeleHealth Connect Tunisia 2026” in Tunis, with a planned “Tunis Declaration” covering equitable access, personal data protection, and cybersecurity. Water Security: Tunisia’s Water Observatory warns dam evaporation is draining huge volumes daily and backs modern fixes like photovoltaic panels to cut losses, alongside better dam maintenance and planning. Telecom Hiring: Tunisia’s National Telecommunications Authority (INT) opens an external recruitment drive for six roles, including senior engineering and IT posts, with an Oct. 22 application deadline. Dentistry Training: Tunisia’s Health and Higher Education ministries announce a competitive exam to recruit dentistry resident doctors in Monastir starting Dec. 4, with 45 positions plus a small reserved track for senior practicing general dentists. Geoscience Conference: Tunisia will host the 6th International Professional Geology Conference (15–17 Oct 2027 in Hammamet) on “Resources, Risks and Resilience,” featuring 15 tracks including Earth observation and AI. Energy Efficiency Innovation: Italy–Tunisia Innovation Talks at Terna Innovation Zone Tunisia spotlight AI and tech for industrial monitoring and energy efficiency, linking Tunisian and Italian startups.

EU Asylum Rules: The EU has named seven “safe countries of origin” for 2026—Bangladesh, Colombia, Egypt, India, Kosovo, Morocco and Tunisia—meaning asylum claims from these nationals can be processed faster under EU rules, with Kosovo’s designation carrying a status caveat. Tunisia Water Tech: Tunisia is pushing modern solutions to cut dam water losses, with experts citing huge evaporation volumes and pointing to pilot ideas like photovoltaic covers inspired by China. Digital Health in Tunis: “TeleHealth Connect Tunisia 2026” is underway, focusing on telemedicine, data protection, AI governance and cybersecurity, with a planned “Tunis Declaration” for safer, more equitable digital health. Healthcare Careers: Tunisia’s Health and Higher Education ministries announced a dentistry resident recruitment exam starting Dec 4, 2026 in Monastir, with 45 positions across multiple specialties. Telecom Hiring: Tunisia’s National Telecommunications Authority (INT) opened an external recruitment drive for six roles, with Oct 22 as the application deadline. Industry & Jobs: German supplier Kromberg & Schubert inaugurated “Beja 2,” investing about TND 300 million and aiming for 7,500 workers by 2029.

Tunisia Water Security: Tunisia is looking at modern ways to cut dam water losses, with experts warning evaporation can drain 650,000–750,000 m³ per day at 28°C and calling for pilots like photovoltaic panels to reduce evaporation. Digital Health in Tunisia: “TeleHealth Connect Tunisia 2026” is underway in Tunis, pushing telemedicine and remote specialist care while drafting a “Tunis Declaration” on equitable access, data protection and cybersecurity. Local Industry Jobs: German supplier Kromberg & Schubert opened “Beja 2,” investing nearly TND 300 million and aiming to grow staffing from about 2,600 today to around 7,500 by 2029. Telecom Hiring: Tunisia’s National Telecommunications Authority announced an external recruitment drive for six roles, with an Oct. 22 application deadline. AI & Energy Innovation (Tunisia-Italy): Italian Embassy talks in Tunis focused on using AI for industrial monitoring, maintenance and energy efficiency, linking Italian and Tunisian innovation ecosystems. Halal Standards in Tunis: SMIIC and ICCBS/University of Karachi signed a cooperation agreement to advance halal standardization, testing, metrology and training. Regional Tech/Infrastructure: Algeria’s Sonelgaz signed two MoUs with Senegal’s Senelec to transfer engineering know-how and support power and gas infrastructure.

Digital Health in Tunisia: Tunisia’s “digital hospital” is expanding in Sfax with weekly remote consultations in child psychiatry, psychiatry, joint & bone diseases, and neurology, delivered by specialists from Hedi Chaker and Habib Bourguiba university hospitals. Water Tech & Infrastructure: Tunisia’s Water Observatory warns dam evaporation can reach 650,000–750,000 m³/day at 28°C and pushes modern fixes, including pilot use of photovoltaic panels to cut losses. Telecom Jobs: Tunisia’s National Telecommunications Authority announces an external recruitment drive for six roles, with applications due Oct. 22. Industry & Manufacturing: German supplier Kromberg & Schubert inaugurates “Beja 2,” investing nearly TND 300 million and targeting up to 7,500 workers by 2029. International Research & Policy: Tunisia hosts “TeleHealth Connect Tunisia 2026,” aiming for a “Tunis Declaration” on equitable, safe digital health. Energy & Innovation Links: Italy–Tunisia Innovation Talks focus on AI and energy-efficiency monitoring for industrial plants. Halal Standards: SMIIC and ICCBS (University of Karachi) sign a cooperation agreement on halal standardization and metrology in Tunis. Geoscience Conference: Tunisia announces the 6th International Professional Geology Conference in Hammamet (Oct 15–17, 2027) with 15 tracks including AI and digital geosciences.

Digital Health in Tunisia: Tunisia’s digital hospital is expanding in Sfax, offering remote consultations in four specialties (child psychiatry, psychiatry, joint and bone diseases, neurology) to patients at three local facilities since Aug. 17, with weekly sessions and plans to add more specialties and extend to nearby governorates. EU Energy Projects: The European Commission approved three new cross-border renewable energy projects under CB RES status—WIND (Ukraine–Romania wind, 650 MW), DEPLOY (Poland–Germany wind+solar with heat for industry, 180 MW), and ZEGA-LINNK (Austria–Germany geothermal-backed heat network with a 5 MW heat pump). Halal Standards in Tunis: SMIIC and ICCBS (University of Karachi) signed a cooperation agreement in Tunis to boost halal standardization, metrology, certification, training, and joint research. Space & Women in Tech: The African Space Agency held its first all-women SpatiELLES Hackathon at ASPEX 2026, with Tunisia among top performers. Science Events: Tunisia will host the 6th International Professional Geology Conference (Hammamet, Oct. 15–17, 2027) under “Geosciences: Resources, Risks and Resilience,” with 15 tracks including AI and digital geosciences.

Digital Health in Sfax: Tunisia’s Ministry of Health digital hospital is delivering weekly remote consultations in child psychiatry, psychiatry, joint & bone diseases, and neurology to patients at Kerkennah, Jebeniana, and Bir Ali Ben Khalifa, with specialists from Hedi Chaker and Habib Bourguiba university hospitals; the plan is to add more specialties and expand to nearby governorates. AI & Industry Link-Up (Tunisia–Italy): The Italian Embassy in Tunis and Terna Innovation Zone hosted Innovation Talks focused on using AI and new technologies for industrial monitoring, maintenance, and energy-efficiency optimization, featuring eMomentum and Orbit Engineering Solutions. Halal Economy Push: Tunisia’s halal market is being positioned for growth via expanded certification, export promotion (agri-food, olive oil, seafood, tourism, telecoms, cosmetics), and a proposed Higher Halal Council to coordinate stakeholders. Energy Infrastructure (SoutH2 Corridor): Algeria hosted a five-country ministerial meeting with Tunisia, Italy, Austria, and Germany to advance the SoutH2 renewable hydrogen corridor, targeting up to 4 million tonnes annually with phased service in the early 2030s. Aerospace Engineering Deal: Akkodis completed the acquisition of SOGECLAIR engineering activities dedicated to Airbus, with Tunisia teams transferring after regulatory approvals. Space Tech for Women: The African Space Agency ran the all-women SpatiELLES Hackathon at ASPEX 2026; Tunisia teams won top prize.

Digital Health in Sfax: Tunisia’s Ministry of Health digital hospital is running weekly remote consultations in child psychiatry, psychiatry, joint & bone diseases, and neurology across three Sfax facilities, delivered by specialists from Hedi Chaker and Habib Bourguiba university hospitals, with plans to add more specialties and expand to nearby governorates. AI & Innovation Linkages: Italy and Tunisia held Innovation Talks at Terna Innovation Zone Tunisia, focusing on using AI and new tech for industrial plant monitoring, maintenance, and energy-efficiency optimization. Hydrogen Corridor Talks: Algeria hosted a five-country ministerial meeting to advance the SoutH2 hydrogen corridor with Tunisia, Italy, Austria, and Germany, aiming to finalize technical and financial steps for a planned North Africa-to-Europe renewable hydrogen pipeline. Tunisia’s Phosphate Push: Tunisia reiterated plans to regain leadership in phosphates and derivatives via stakeholder coordination, research and mining activity, incentives, and digital geological data for investors. Space Tech for Women: The African Space Agency launched its all-women SpatiELLES Hackathon at ASPEX 2026, with Tunisia among participating teams. Education & Mobility: Tunisia’s embassy in Budapest opened scholarship applications for Tunisian students in Slovakia, with a webinar set for Oct 2. Science & Talent Calls: Tunisia can also tap regional opportunities like the 2027 MENA Stevie Awards, which accept nominations across innovation categories.

Digital Health in Sfax: Tunisia’s Ministry of Health is expanding its digital hospital model with weekly remote consultations in child psychiatry, psychiatry, joint and bone diseases, and neurology—delivered by specialists from Hedi Chaker and Habib Bourguiba university hospitals to three regional facilities since August 17. AI for Public Services: Tunisia’s Finance Ministry says it is integrating AI into taxation, customs, accounting and administration to speed up procedures, while stressing training and cybersecurity for sensitive citizen and company data. TeleHealth Congress in Tunis: “TeleHealth Connect 2026” is underway in Tunis, bringing 30+ countries to discuss telemedicine, medical AI, health data governance, cybersecurity, virtual hospitals and financing. Energy & Industry Roadmap: Tunisia’s Engineers’ Council unveiled an energy roadmap ahead of summer 2027. Regional Tech & Research Links: Tunisia is hosting a Libyan farmers’ study tour on irrigation water productivity under a FAO-backed project, with hands-on visits to Tunisian research, training and demonstration sites. Innovation Policy: Tunisia’s halal sector push continues, with calls for wider halal certification and a proposed Higher Halal Council to boost exports in agri-food, olive oil, seafood, tourism and services.

AI in Public Finance: Tunisia’s Finance Ministry is integrating AI into taxation, customs, and accounting systems to speed up services for citizens and businesses, while also ramping up training and cybersecurity for sensitive data. Digital Health in Tunis: The “TeleHealth Connect 2026” congress is underway in Tunis, bringing 30+ countries to discuss telemedicine, AI in medicine, health data governance, cybersecurity, and virtual hospitals. Space & Women in STEM: The African Space Agency hosted the first all-women SpatiELLES Hackathon at ASPEX 2026; Tunisia teams won 1st prize, highlighting new African talent in space tech. Energy Tech Cooperation: Algeria is set to host talks on Oct 1 to advance the SoutH2 Corridor with Tunisia, Italy, Germany, and Austria, aiming to move renewable hydrogen to Europe via a 3,300 km pipeline. Agritech Data Advantage: A look at four African agritech firms shows the real edge is often applying existing AI to local data like satellite soil insights and hyperlocal farm conditions. Science & Education Mobility: Tunisia’s embassy in Budapest opened scholarship applications for Slovak programs (deadline Oct 30) and will hold an Oct 2 webinar for applicants. Astronomy for Tunisia: A total solar eclipse on Aug 2, 2027 will be visible across North Africa including Tunisia, with a very wide path and long totality.