We are happy to share the story of Zied, an engineer from Tunisia now based in France. By supporting a close friend’s mechanical workshop in Tunisia, he is investing in the country's local industry and opening doors to international markets. In this interview, he speaks about his motivation, challenges, and how WIDU.africa helped turn a long-time idea into action.
Could you briefly introduce yourself?
My name is Zied and I'm Tunisian. I came to France in 2019 to study. I started my higher education in Tunisia as a mechanical electronics engineer, and as part of a double degree process, I came to France to continue my studies in Lyon to become a mechanical engineer. I graduated three and a half years ago and started working afterwards. Currently, I live in Grenoble, France.
Can you tell us a bit about your experience with WIDU?
I know WIDU through a friend of 10 years called Achraf. He has a mechanical parts manufacturing workshop in Tunisia. Since he opened his business, we've been talking about a possible collaboration to support him in his activities and possibly find markets in France. When he heard about WIDU, we thought it was a good opportunity for him to buy new tools to develop his business. For my part, I was immediately keen to support him with WDU’s offer.
Have you encountered any difficulties in supporting a project in your home country? And how did you overcome them?
The only difficulty we encountered during the WIDU process was that it took almost two months for my transfer to reach Ashraf because of the paperwork the bank asked us for.
What motivates you to continue investing in the development of your home country? And what advice would you give to other members of the diaspora?
What motivates me is that there is real potential in Tunisia. We can guarantee excellent production quality at very competitive prices. The fact that I'm based in France gives me direct access to potential future markets that could be interesting for the development of mechanical engineering activities in Tunisia. Getting involved in the development of international projects is what motivates me. I find the concept of WIDU, which facilitates the development of businesses in Africa, really interesting.
What I can advise other people in the diaspora is that you shouldn't be afraid of this type of help. It's always good for investors and for the country of origin