🇹🇳TunisiaNorth Africa
Tunisia reactivates National Council to combat counterfeiting and piracy amid widespread market issues
via Business News6 min read
Tunisia's Ministry of Commerce and Export Development announced on Monday, April 20, 2026, the reactivation of the National Council for Combating Counterfeiting. This move comes in response to the widespread circulation of counterfeit goods, including imitation clothing, fake perfumes, cosmetics, and pirated content, across various sectors from weekly markets to online sales. The ministry stated that this relaunch, marked by the first meeting of the year presided over by Samir Abid, aims to strengthen intellectual property protection and more effectively address counterfeiting and piracy. The initiative seeks to renew national efforts to identify these practices, propose solutions, and improve the legal and institutional framework. The ministry emphasized the importance of protecting innovation, improving the business climate, supporting investment, and fostering economic growth. Authorities recognize that counterfeiting and piracy now extend beyond traditional channels to industrial, technological, and digital commerce sectors, sometimes with organized cross-border implications. The ministry calls for enhanced cooperation among Tunisian administrations and improved international coordination to mitigate the economic and social impacts of these practices. Counterfeiting in Tunisia affects numerous market segments, including clothing, footwear, perfumes, beauty products, electronics, and pirated digital content and software. These items are sold in markets, informal stalls, an
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The Tunisian cinema sector is experiencing significant delays in obtaining filming authorizations, leading to a standstill in production. Professionals attribute this issue to the centralization of signature authority within the cabinet of Amina Srarfi, the Minister of Cultural Affairs. The Independent Union of Directors and Producers SIRP issued a statement on Monday, April 20, 2026, condemning what it describes as an unjustified disruption to the authorization service. The SIRP states that these authorizations were previously granted within reasonable timeframes by the competent administration, following established procedures. The union expresses serious concerns that this situation will hinder audiovisual and cinematic activity, particularly when responsiveness and administrative simplification are crucial for industry operators. According to the SIRP, filming authorizations are now being sent to Minister Srarfi's cabinet for signature, a process deemed unusual that extends processing times. This new administrative arrangement has resulted in delays, prejudice to applicants, and disruption of ongoing projects. Professionals emphasize that authorization timelines are critical for planning shoots, mobilizing teams, reserving equipment, and coordinating locations. The SIRP argues that this approach contradicts administrative modernization principles and anti-bureaucracy objectives. The union calls on authorities to urgently restore the normal functioning of the service, allo
During a parliamentary session on Monday, April 20, 2026, the Minister of Transport, Rachid Amri, addressed the situation of national carrier Tunisair. He announced a new approach to passenger communication, stating that travelers who provide their contact details during central reservations are now informed in real-time about delays or cancellations. He acknowledged that a lack of effective communication had previously caused "chaos at Tunisair" but affirmed that a solution had been found, without detailing its mechanisms. The Minister also stated that the current fleet comprises 14 operational aircraft, projected to increase to 16 by June and 18 by the end of 2026. He recognized past technical failures, particularly with aircraft engines, and claimed solutions have been implemented, though specifics were not disclosed. Amri also announced the upcoming resumption of flights to Libya, stating that technical and logistical obstacles have been resolved. He concluded by emphasizing the government's focus on improving punctuality to restore Tunisair's credibility and reposition the company in a competitive aviation market.
Must ReadThe National Union of Tunisian Journalists SNJT issued a statement on Monday, April 20, 2026, expressing concern over the rise of hate speech in media coverage of irregular migration, particularly targeting migrants from sub-Saharan Africa. The union highlighted a dangerous shift in both media content and journalists' social media posts, where discriminatory remarks and generalizations are becoming more frequent. The SNJT condemned coordinated online attacks against several media outlets, including Nawaat, Roots TV, Rachma, and Legal Agenda, and their journalists, who faced insults and accusations after covering a national march against racism and migration issues. The union announced it has mobilized its monitoring unit to document abuses and plans legal and union actions to protect affected professionals. The SNJT believes these attacks are part of a broader pressure campaign to intimidate media and discourage coverage of sensitive human rights topics, potentially leading to self-censorship. The union also criticized internal professional shortcomings, such as sensationalism, reliance on unqualified commentators, and the spread of unverified social media content, which undermine journalistic credibility. It also raised concerns about the involvement of political figures, including Members of Parliament, in discriminatory discourse, which exacerbates tensions and diverts attention from substantive solutions. The SNJT urged journalists to uphold professional ethics, reject ra
Must ReadThe Central Bank of Tunisia detailed its governor Fethi Zouhaier Nouri's meetings in Washington during the International Monetary Fund and World Bank Group Spring Meetings. This engagement reflects Tunisia's broader strategy to reassure foreign partners, secure new financing, and maintain its international financial visibility. The meetings occurred amid a sensitive economic climate, marked by geopolitical tensions, energy market volatility, high inflation, and limited budgetary margins. A key issue is the stalled negotiations with the IMF since 2022, despite a 1.9 billion dollar agreement in principle that year. Tunisia's presence in Washington was thus diplomatic, financial, and strategic. Tunisian authorities emphasized the national economy's resilience, with Governor Nouri meeting international institutional investors, Arab Monetary Fund officials, and his counterparts from the Central Bank of Libya and the Bank of Algeria. He highlighted the country's macro-financial stability and efforts to maintain key balances, aiming to convince lenders, markets, and foreign partners of Tunisia's ability to honor commitments and pursue reforms. Behind this message of confidence, Tunisia actively seeks external resources. Finance Minister Samir Abdelhafidh met with international financial institutions, development agencies, and bilateral partners, including the World Bank Group, the International Finance Corporation, MIGA, the OPEC Fund for International Development, European partners