(Ecofin Agency) - The manufacturing sector outpaced energy, services, and agriculture as the top recipient of foreign direct investments (FDI) in Tunisia in 2023.

Foreign investment flows into Tunisia reached 2.52 billion dinars (about $806 million) in 2023, marking a 13.5% increase compared to 2022, according to data by the Foreign Investment Promotion Agency (FIPA). These flows were distributed between portfolio investments, reaching 136.8 million dinars in 2023 compared to 7.6 million in 2022, and foreign direct investments (FDI), which saw a 7.7% increase, reaching 2.38 billion dinars.

FIPA further specified that the manufacturing industry topped the list of sectors attracting the most FDI in 2023, accounting for 62.1% of the total flows. Following closely were the energy sector (19.7%), services (17.5%), and agriculture (0.8%).

FDI flows excluding energy, which involved 638 projects with a cumulative value of 1.91 billion dinars, resulted in the creation of 14,746 new jobs.