Chambre de Commerce et d'Industrie de Sfax

15 Tunisian young entrepreneurs have been chosen to participate in the final phase of the MEDSt@rts project.

15 Tunisian young entrepreneurs have been chosen to participate in the final phase of the MEDSt@rts project.

The evaluation committee, gathered on March 10 and 11 2021, and completed with success these two days of interviews for the evaluation of the 25 shortlisted entrepreneurs, 15 among them were chosen to participate in the final phase of the MEDSt@rts project, financed by MEDSt@rts and implemented by the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Sfax in Tunisia.

The 15 finalist candidates will receive up to 10,000 Euros to finance their project idea.

The digitalization and craftsmanship are the dominant sectors, chosen by more than 47% of the shortlisted candidates and followed by the sector of agriculture and the other domains envisaged by the project: Eco-design, Cultural heritage, Tourism, and Services to the person.

6 women and 9 men, whose average age is less than 31 years, will therefore embark in the coming weeks in a course characterized by:

A common training program for business incubation (webinars and mentoring);

A job training aimed at improving skills, capacities and entrepreneurial attitude;

Specialized financial advice.

This selection demonstrates that the quality of the projects is high and will contribute to the development of entrepreneurship in the microfinance sector in Tunisia. The series of events is organized by the MEDSt@rts project and aims to:

Increase the number of financial options available by improving the understanding of the variety of financial instruments, encouraging discussion among stakeholders on new approaches and innovative policies for financing SMEs and entrepreneurship;

Develop additional measures to support businesses, necessary for the development of the innovative sector of small and medium-sized enterprises. The actions have significant positive economic and social effects, relating to the creation of an environment favorable to entrepreneurship, innovation and employment.

Promoted by the ENI CBC Med program, the European Union's instrument for cross-border cooperation in the Mediterranean basin for the period 2014-2020, MEDSt@rts plans similar courses in Greece, Italy, Palestine and Lebanon. La Fondazione di Sardegna is the principal beneficiary in partnership with SFIRS and the Italian Arab Cooperation Chamber (Italy), the Achaia Chamber (Greece), the Sfax Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Tunisia), LEADERS (Palestine) and the Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture of Sidon and South Lebanon (Lebanon)