Tunisia's Creative Tunisia initiative lifts artisan sector, creating jobs and export growth

The Creative Tunisia programme, implemented from 2019 to 2026 by UNIDO with funding from the European Union and Italy, aimed to modernise Tunisia’s craft industry across the full value chain. It helped structure six regional design and innovation hubs and seven design centres, linked 300,000 artisans, and supported 17 artisan groups.

During the six‑year run, more than 2,000 artisans received training through 400 sessions, 40 new artisan enterprises were created and 200 existing ones upgraded. The sector’s export value reached nearly 160 million Tunisian dinars in 2025, with products entering ten new overseas markets and 350 new collections launched. The programme also targeted social goals, improving economic participation for women and youth and balancing development across regions such as Tunis‑Douar Hicher, Mahdia, Gabès, Gafsa, Kasserine and Sidi Bou Saïd.