Faced with the paralysis of post-World War II multilateralism and the accelerated geopolitical restructuring, diplomacy is no longer a simple tool of representation; but a concrete lever to open commercial doors, attract investments and anchor Tunisia at the Mediterranean, African and Arab crossroads.
This rich debate, held during the 39th edition of the Business Days organized by IACE in Sousse from December 11 to 13, 2025, between Hatem Atallah, former seasoned ambassador, and Fethi Sellaouti, professor of economics and former minister of Education, perfectly illustrates this vital interconnection between diplomacy and economy.
Met on the sidelines of this event, Hatem Attalah spoke in a statement to leconomistemaghrebin.com multi-alignment and the need to “set the record straight” in Tunisian economic diplomacy. He first reminds us that diplomacy is not stuck in the past.
He emphasizes that diplomacy is the implementation of national policy. It reflects the choices of the authorities in terms of concrete partnerships and cooperation.
Today, faced with a multi-aligned world, we are witnessing a proliferation of specialized forms, such as parliamentary, sports, climate diplomacy, and many others.
He believes that the key word remains “diplomacy” and that it must adapt to the realities of the century: classic procedures persist, but the tools and content evolve.
He specifies to this effect: “At the Tunisian Diplomatic Academy, where I teach, we train young diplomats in essential protocols. While teaching them to integrate the priorities of the moment. For example, an ambassador follows the traditional framework. But it integrates contemporary issues such as technological innovation. Let us think of the pioneering creation of a nanosatellite by Tunisia, an under-exploited asset in economic diplomacy. »
The diplomatic challenges to be met
He adds: “Economic diplomacy has never disappeared; it has been integral to our history since 1956. We have always sought outlets for our products and established partnerships to serve Tunisian interests. The economic influences the political and the diplomatic, and vice versa. »
And he continues that the current challenges are clear, because we must adapt the tools to multi-alignment. This involves diversifying partnerships (Africa, Mediterranean, EU, Asia) without dogmatism, capitalizing on our assets such as nanosatellites to attract high-tech investments. The same goes for the training of a new generation. And therefore, instill flexibility and innovation into procedures, to respond to inflation, public debt and global crises.
So, the integration of economic diplomacy at the heart of national policy becomes a necessity to transform strategic choices into concrete agreements, beyond fashionable qualifiers.
It is not a question of returning to fixed traditions, but of adjusting the content to current generations. Tunisian diplomacy must once again become an offensive economic lever. The final word being: “We will have to work and continue. »
