Tunisia adopts 2026‑2030 development plan with modest parliamentary backing

On 10 July, Tunisia’s Assembly of the Representatives of the People passed the 2026‑2030 Development Plan with 64 votes in favour, 24 against and 15 abstentions, meaning fewer than four of ten deputies supported the text. The plan targets 4.2 % annual growth, a fiscal deficit around 3 % of GDP, public debt below 80 % by 2030, poverty under 15 %, and renewable energy to supply 35 % of electricity. It also promises hundreds of thousands of jobs, regional investment, and growth in sectors such as phosphates, textiles and the digital economy.

The government, led by Prime Minister Sarra Zaâfrani Zenzri and President Kaïs Saïed, frames the plan as a return to state‑led five‑year planning to reduce reliance on external financing. Parallelly, the World Bank’s resident representative highlighted three strategic sectors—energy, digital and water—to boost Tunisia’s economic resilience. Objectives include expanding renewable energy to 35 % by 2030, creating up to 30 000 jobs, positioning Tunisia as a regional renewable‑energy hub, advancing digital public services, and addressing water‑stress through a long‑term vision to 2050.