In Mahdia, Chargée d’Affaires a.i. Natasha Franceschi and USAID Tunisia Mission Director Scott Dobberstein visited Skila Tendance, a handicraft company specializing in producing silk scarves, and VIPA, an agribusiness that processes and packages healthy snack foods. In the governorate of Mahdia alone, the U.S. Embassy has assisted over 700 small and medium-sized enterprises leading to the creation of more than 1,500 jobs.

Later in Sousse, Chargée Franceschi visited the New Medina, part of our Ahlan 2.0 program, where she met with the region’s olive oil producers. We are proud to support this thriving sector that recently won a record-setting 21 gold and silver awards at the world’s largest olive oil competition in New York. In 2021, Tunisia exported nearly $240 million in olive oil to the United States.

The U.S. Embassy is proudly helping small and medium-sized businesses throughout Tunisia secure financing, create new jobs, increase revenues, and reach international markets.