Saudi-Tunisian Joint Committee Concludes 12th Session In Riyadh With Five Agreements And MoUs

The 12th session of the Saudi-Tunisian Joint Committee in Riyadh ended with both sides signing five agreements, memoranda of understanding, and executive programs. These documents focused on customs, mining, postal services, and media cooperation. Officials described these steps as tools to deepen economic integration and support broader partnership between Saudi Arabia and Tunisia across several strategic fields.

The meetings were co-chaired by Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources Bandar Alkhorayef for Saudi Arabia and Minister of Economy and Planning Samir Abdelhafidh for Tunisia. Government delegations from a wide range of sectors attended. Sessions were hosted by the Saudi Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources and involved extensive technical discussions on future cooperation plans and practical implementation mechanisms.

Economic and trade topics received detailed attention during the Saudi-Tunisian Joint Committee discussions. Participants urged both countries to complete previously agreed initiatives designed to raise mutual trade volumes. They also stressed the need to activate the Joint Business Council more effectively and to widen mutual recognition of product conformity certificates, which officials see as vital for smoother trade flows.

Officials highlighted recent trade performance to underline the impact of joint work. The meetings welcomed the outcomes of the third meeting of the Joint Working Group for Trade Cooperation, held in Tunisia in July 2025. That gathering was linked to a 38% increase in trade volume by September 2025, compared with the same period in the previous year.

The closing session featured a package of specific agreements and programs supporting long-term cooperation. These included an agreement on cooperation and mutual assistance in customs matters, as well as a memorandum of understanding for collaboration in the mineral resources sector. Another MoU dealt with the postal sector, alongside a separate arrangement for cooperation in radio and television broadcasting.

Media cooperation was strengthened through an executive program covering news exchange. This program linked the Saudi Press Agency and Tunis Afrique Presse, aiming to increase information sharing and coordination between the two national news agencies. The media-related documents formed part of a wider group of arrangements that also covered economic and technical fields discussed during the session.

Saudi-Tunisian Joint Committee strategic sectors and development goals

Throughout the session, officials from both governments reviewed cooperation in priority economic sectors and ongoing development projects. Discussions examined current and planned joint projects and their expected role in supporting economic and social development in both Saudi Arabia and Tunisia. Energy, industry, mining, transport, logistics, and aviation were highlighted as central areas for coordination.

The committee approved minutes for its 12th session that listed 100 cooperation items across 15 fields. These items covered sectors such as justice, human resource development, renewable energy, digital transformation, tourism, culture, and media. The broad agenda was framed as a way to strengthen economic integration and support a comprehensive partnership between the two countries across governmental and private sectors.

Saudi-Tunisian Joint Committee future meetings and coordination

Participants also discussed how to maintain momentum for joint work after the Riyadh meetings. Both sides agreed that the Saudi-Tunisian Joint Committee will continue to convene every two years, with hosting rotating between Saudi Arabia and Tunisia. The secretariats from each side will monitor implementation of recommendations and address obstacles through two periodic follow-up meetings each year.

Cooperation tracks extended beyond economic issues to include consular, security, and judicial affairs, as well as Hajj, Umrah, and Islamic affairs. Both parties underlined the importance of expanding mutual investments in vital, high-value sectors. They linked these investments to knowledge transfer, localisation of expertise, and the creation of quality opportunities that support sustainable development in both countries.

Looking ahead, the two sides expressed a shared wish to hold the 13th session of the Saudi-Tunisian Joint Committee in Tunisia. The date for that meeting will be set later through diplomatic channels. Officials stated that the results of the Riyadh session provide a detailed framework for cooperation while leaving room for further agreements as joint projects progress.

With inputs from SPA