Bleak outlook for Tunisia’s leather and footwear industry
21/08/2018
Following the meeting, the presidents of Tunisia’s various leather and footwear associations held a press conference, during which they reiterated their concern about the future of the sector and about the job losses that have taken place within it.
The president of the country’s national association of leather and footwear artisans, Wajdi Dhouib, said the meeting with Mr Behi had achieved nothing. He added that a number of important issues had not been resolved, leaving the industry in an even more perilous situation.
Among the specific problems Mr Dhouib referred to were the lack of control over imports and the increase in overseas companies setting up business in Tunisia. He suggested that these investors would simply take any profits they make and move them back to their home countries, offering no benefit to Tunisia.
Also present at the press conference was Khémaïs Mitaou, president of Tunisia’s shoe manufacturers’ association. He lamented the domestic footwear industry’s inability to compete with large multinational companies. This has caused skilled Tunisian artisans to leave the country in pursuit of employment, he claimed.
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