"Tunisian electronics must own its ambition in the MENA region"
Interview with Walid Benamor, President of ELENTICA
In a world where electronics is the invisible infrastructure of digital, energy, and industrial transitions, Tunisia has a real place. The ELENTICA cluster positions itself as a catalyst, and aims to give the ecosystem the visibility it deserves, help it move upmarket, and open it up internationally.
You founded ELENTICA at a time when the Tunisian electronics industry had little visibility. What is your vision for the ecosystem, the cluster, and Tunisia?
At launch, Tunisian electronics had know-how but little narrative: people talked about "workforce", rarely about "industrial intelligence".
My vision comes down to three pillars:
- For the ecosystem: move from isolated sites to a real industry, with innovative SMEs/start-ups, research centers connected to the productive fabric, and international clients who treat us as partners and co-contractors.
- For ELENTICA: act as a meta-player that coordinates, connects, and accelerates — "producing" the necessary conditions for success.
- For Tunisia: make electronics a strategic pillar alongside automotive, aeronautics, and ICT. We have the skills, proximity to Europe, and a tech-savvy youth; what is missing is a bold direction: moving from a "workshop country" to a "design and co-development country".
You often talk about internationalization. What is the strategy to strengthen the visibility of Tunisian companies?
This is no longer a slogan — it is vital. Our companies are technically strong but poorly visible.
A strategy built on three levers:
- Collective presence at major trade shows with a Tunisian pavilion, a shared identity, and a clear message: "Tunisia — a reliable and innovative electronics platform".
- Industry marketing: sharing use cases, client references, figures, and testimonials — the cluster serves as a showcase.
- Integration into global value chains (automotive, aeronautics, energy, telecoms, healthcare...) via certifications, standards, co-innovation, and sustainable commitments. We also rely on economic diplomacy and the diaspora as relay points.
As some speak of industry 6.0, how do you move up the value chain and go beyond simple assembly?
Value is shifting toward engineering, software, data, and services. Our response:
- Targeted skills development (board/systems design, firmware, test-validation-certification, cybersecurity, predictive maintenance, high-value after-sales service) with structured pathways, certifications, and continuous training.
- Transforming factories into smart sites: digitization, IIoT, digital twins, real-time traceability, energy optimization — we support this through diagnostics, roadmaps, and resource pooling.
- Talent retention: stimulating projects, modern environments, recognition; career paths, intrapreneurship, and connections to international projects from Tunisia.
Your to-do list for the next three years?
- For the sector: a quantified national roadmap (export, jobs, R&D) with aligned resources; an upmarket move targeting segments to excel in (automotive electronics, energy, industrial IoT, connected healthcare); a strong sector brand.
- For ELENTICA: multiply collaborative R&D projects, deploy an acceleration program dedicated to innovative electronics, structure an assumed MENA presence.
- For member companies: support on certification, exports, and digitization; creation of a sectoral co-investment fund; networking with major global value chains.
