In Nabeul, the United States has assisted over 1,200 companies and small producers across various sectors, including handicrafts, textiles, information services, waste management, and food production. Chargée d’Affaires a.i. Natasha Franceschi traveled to Grombalia to visit the factory of SIAME, a Tunisian manufacturer of electric meters. The visit provided an opportunity to learn about SIAME’s manufacturing process for the first “made in Tunisia” smart meter, conducted in partnership with the American company Semitech. The U.S. Government and the U.S. private sector are proud to support efforts to improve energy efficiency in Tunisia. Since 2019, the U.S. Embassy has been working with Tunisian electricity provider STEG to use smart grid technology to modernize its electrical grid to better adapt to changes in energy demand and integrate renewable energy sources.

Chargée Franceschi also visited the Takelsa beekeeping training center of Agence de la Vulgarisation et de la Formation Agricoles (AVFA), one of seven agricultural training centers being modernized through the $7 million FARMER project that is providing support to Tunisia’s agricultural sector. Her last stop in Nabeul was Poterie Slama, a U.S.-supported handicraft company that produces ceramic pottery and decorative art. Through USAID assistance, the company has strengthened its supply chain and production processes to increase sales, create new jobs, and take their products to market overseas.