Neila Gongi: Accompanying programme for companies in decarbonisation to be implemented soon

A programme called “SOS decarbonisation” aimed at supporting companies in the development and implementation of their decarbonisation strategies is being finalised by the Ministry of Industry, Mines and Energy, and will soon be made public, Industry Minister Neila Gongi said.

“The development of industry at the international level, the commitments of Tunisia under the Paris Agreement on climate which sets the objective of achieving carbon neutrality by 2050 and the carbon tax that the European Union will require at its borders from 2026 in order to green its industrial imports … are all factors that push Tunisia to prepare its companies for this new situation and these new constraints,” she explained at a meeting held Thursday in Tunis by the Tunisian-French Chamber of Commerce and Industry on “Industrial strategies, decarbonisation and the promotion of renewable energy.

According to the minister, the decarbonisation support programme aims to popularise the issues of this process and to train experts who will support companies in the development and implementation of their decarbonisation strategies. It provides for the setting up of instruments, facilities and training, assistance and support programmes dedicated to this end.

“Companies, faced with the need to justify their carbon footprint, will also have to achieve a certain energy mix. This is why this programme also provides support to enable them to produce their own electricity, or part of their needs, from renewable energy, through the Energy Transition Fund and the National Agency for Energy Management,” she added.

Setting up competitiveness pacts for priority sectors

Gongi also recalled that the Industrial and Innovation Strategy for 2035, implemented by her department, has retained as a main lever, the public-private partnership, through the signing of competitiveness pacts with the growth sectors.

“These pacts are based on a double commitment of the state and the private sector. The State pledges to develop the infrastructure and to provide the necessary training and support to companies. In return, the investor commits to a specific level of investment and employment.

“A first pact was signed last July with the automobile sector and it succeeded in instilling a certain investment dynamic within the sector. The pacts relating to the pharmaceutical and olive oil sectors will be signed very soon and will be followed by those relating to the aeronautical and technical textile sectors. Many other pacts will follow shortly.

The new investment law will soon be presented to the Cabinet meeting

The Minister also announced that the new investment law is practically finalised. It should soon be submitted to the cabinet meeting and then to parliament for adoption.

She expressed the hope that this law will be adopted as soon as possible, pointing out that this law has been simplified in order to enshrine the principle of freedom of investment. “Only activities related to strategic sectors such as defence, natural resources, … will be subject to authorisation,” she said.