Tunisia: Exclusive interview with Mr. Radhi Meddeb, economist and serial entrepreneur

As a prelude to the Festival of Francophone Economic Intelligence (FIEF) which takes place in Djerba on November 17 on the sidelines of the Francophonie summit, we were able to talk with Mr. Radhi Meddeb, Godfather of the Festival, also CEO of COMETE, PCA of CFE Tunisie among other hats.

AFRIK.COM: Your assessment of the economic Francophonie in 2022?

Radhi Meddeb : Today, the Francophonie is essentially limited to a cultural movement, a gathering of countries having in common the practice of the French language. This is both enormous and insufficient. This is huge, because language is the vehicle of thought and values. It is at the same time the prerequisite and the bearer of the action. A common language reflects a widely shared cultural background. It portends similar mental structures and a common practice of analysis and reflection. This is at the same time insufficient, because we are in a world where the material imposes itself on the spiritual, where everything is financialized and measured by the mercantile yardstick. The globalization we are experiencing, which is imposed on us and which we must assume, will have abandoned values ​​and the humanities in favor of consumer goods. The teacher or the professor of letters, historical and emblematic figures of the Francophonie, are no longer, in their respective villages, local notables. They are supplanted in the ladder of social recognition by merchants and economic actors, including from the informal sector. La Francophonie must invest in the economic field, put it at the service of the populations. His salvation passes by there, the adhesion of the populations, too.

AFRIK.COM: What can the economic Francophonie bring to African countries??

Radhi Meddeb Africa is a young continent, in full demographic growth. Its population is increasingly educated. It is connected and aspires to the attributes and benefits of global citizenship. Its youth are showing the same demands as all other citizens of the world, namely access to greater economic opportunities and better social conditions. Taking the economic dimension into account in public policies is currently the only approach that can meet these economic and social requirements. The economic Francophonie must continue to serve the project of the founding fathers of La Francophonie. It must perpetuate the permanent quest for the promotion of Man and his fulfilment. This no longer only involves access to education and culture for all, even if that remains unavoidable. This largely depends on the economy. La Francophonie should put itself at the service of its youth, find ways to give them hope, promote their inclusion and active participation in the affairs of the City. The economic Francophonie must be a way of permanently listening to the weak signals of societal transformations. It must be able to adopt and adapt the major global trends in the service of its youth and more generally of its population. By taking part in this approach, Africa would give itself more assets for more inclusive development.

AFRIK.COM: How important is the first edition of the Intelligence Festival Francophone economy that you are sponsoring in this context?

Radhi Meddeb: The first edition of the French-speaking economic intelligence festival aims to put the economy at the heart of public policy priorities in all the countries of the organization. It engages a reflection and a new approach within the Francophonie. The organizers, but also the speakers of the festival will discuss the economic intelligence, the inventory, the strengths and the weaknesses, but also the challenges and the opportunities of such an approach. Their work should conclude with the production of acts and recommendations, to be submitted to the Heads of State meeting at the summit. They intend to follow up with the General Secretariat of La Francophonie so that their recommendations do not remain unimplemented but that they are translated into projects and effective actions, such as to improve the business climate in French-speaking countries, that they promote value-creating projects, greater inclusion of young people and participation of as many people as possible in development work. We are convinced that economic development is inseparable from human development and that culture and education are its most powerful vectors. This process is long-term, but it is unavoidable. We would be happy to share these convictions with the economic and political decision-makers of the region, at the service of our united peoples.

Interview by Oliver Santho, our special correspondent in Tunis

Tunisia: Exclusive interview with Mr. Radhi Meddeb, economist and serial entrepreneur