In early 2020, the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) in partnership with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) Tunisia inaugurated a research project on “Cluster-based development” with a special focus on the leather and dates clusters. This joint webinar presented an opportunity to discuss the study’s preliminary findings; in addition to highlighting COVID-19 related impacts on both sectors.

1. ‫الجمه‬
‫ـ‬
‫وري‬
‫ــــ‬
‫التونسي‬ ‫ة‬
‫ـــــ‬
‫ة‬
‫الص‬ ‫وزارة‬
‫ناع‬
‫ـ‬
‫ة‬
‫المناجم‬ ‫و‬ ‫والطاقة‬

2. ‫لسنة‬ ‫الثانية‬ ‫دورته‬ ‫في‬ ‫اإلدارة‬ ‫مجلس‬ ‫اجتماع‬
2020
25
‫نوفمبر‬
2020

3. Impact of COVID on the leather
and footwear sector

4. Degradation of performances
of leather and shoes sector

5. Les exportations :
Les exportations du secteur des industries du cuir et de la
chaussure ont diminué de 28,6% avec 911,6 MD au cours
de la période 9 mois 2020 contre 1276,6 MD durant la
même période de l’année 2019.
Number of companies:
December 2018, the leather and footwear industries
sector had 240 units with 10 jobs or more
At the end of October 2020, diminution of 7%.

6. Exportations :
The exports of the leather and footwear
industries sector decreased by 30% against
the same period of the year 2019

7. Results of the investigation on the
impact of the Corona virus
pandemic

8. The investigation covered 100 companies
including 40 artisans

9. Due to the accumulation of difficulties in recent
months and the absence of exceptional measures in favor
of companies to overcome the difficult due to Corona
80%, have a problem of cash flow problem
Reduction or cancellation of orders
In addition of illegal import

10. 44% of companies surveyed in the CCI sector
have not yet resumed their activities
33% of companies in the CCI sector have registered
a decrease in their turnover
ICC
56% active
44% non-
active

11. 1. Training on international market niches research
2. Training in the quality and productivity improvement
3. implementation of the pilot cluster for in the of Sfax or Tunis-Nabeu
4. facilitate access to micro-credit for artisan
5. finanacement de l'acquisition de haute technologie equipement
(piquge automatique...)
Proposals

12. 4. Intervenir auprès de la BTS pour accorder aux artisans et PME
des crédits de 10.000 DT pour les aider les à surmonter
leurs difficultés financières.
5. Intervenir auprès des instances compétentes pour exonérer
les importateurs du paiement des droits de douanes appliqués
à l’importation des composants et intrants nécessaires pour
le secteur des industries du cuir.
Propositions à mettre en œuvre dans l’immédiat pour
remédier à la situation actuelle du secteur