Bilateral Relations
Relations between Finland and Tunisia are good. Tunisian Foreign Minister Mohamed Ali Nafti visited Helsinki in 2025. He met with Foreign Minister Elina Valtonen and President Alexander Stubb. A digitalization and technology-focused business delegation accompanying Nafti sought new areas of cooperation with Finnish partners.
In 2023, Finland hosted Dr. Nizar Ben Nej, Tunisia’s Minister of Communications Technology. Discussions during the visit focused on the development of e-services and Finnish startup culture. Tunisia was viewed in Finland as a bridge to the African market.
Dialogue also takes place through the European Union’s cooperation in the Mediterranean region. Finland and Tunisia share the experience of being small countries caught in the midst of larger conflicts; during turbulent periods in their history, both countries have sought to act as bridge-builders and to seek peaceful solutions.
The two countries established diplomatic relations in the late 1950s, and Tunisia became Finland’s first recipient of bilateral development cooperation. In 1965, Finland established a forestry school in Tunisia—which is still in operation today—that helped put Tunisia’s forests to use in a sustainable manner. Two years earlier, in June 1963, the groundwork for development cooperation between Finland and Tunisia had been laid during President Habib Bourguiba’s visit to Finland. Presidents Bourguiba and Kekkonen laid the foundation for their relationship, which was followed by President Kekkonen’s return visit to Tunisia in 1965. Even today, older Tunisians remember our president, who, being quite athletic, climbed a palm tree to the amazement of his hosts.
Commercial and economic relations
Finland's exports to Tunisia totaled 42.6 million euros and imports 24.5 million euros in 2025.
The most important export products from Finland to Tunisia are raw materials related to the wood industry. Various manufactured goods, such as clothing, are imported into Finland from Tunisia. About twenty Finnish companies operate in Tunisia through representatives. There is interest in Finland in Tunisia, particularly in education, the ICT sector, and environmental and energy technology.
In July 2023, the EU and Tunisia signed a memorandum of understanding on broad-based cooperation across various sectors. Under this agreement, Tunisia offers Finnish companies many opportunities, for example in the water sector.
Finland has supported Tunisia’s democratic transition process through four instruments: the Instrument for Institutional Capacity Building in Public Administration (IKI projects), multilateral regional projects and funds, support for civil society organizations, and the Local Cooperation Allocation (PYM). Over the decades, funding for local cooperation has been used in particular to support the political and economic empowerment of women.
History
Tunisia gained independence on March 20, 1956
Finland recognized Tunisia on June 8, 1956
Diplomatic relations were established on July 17, 1959
First ambassador appointed (Rome) in 1959
Finnish representation in Tunis:
1959-1961 Asko Ivalo, Ambassador (based in Rome)
1961-1964 Torsten Vahervuori, Ambassador (based in Rome)
1964-1968 Jussi Mäkinen, Ambassador (based in Algiers)
1969-1972 Olavi Saikku, Ambassador (based in Algiers)
1972-1975 Ossi Sunell, Ambassador (based in Algiers)
1975-1979 Osmo Orkomies, Ambassador (based in Algiers)
1980-1983 Osmo Kock, Ambassador (based in Algiers)
1983-1985 Pekka Malinen, Ambassador (based in Algiers)
1985-1987 Erkki Pajari, Ambassador (based in Algiers)
1988-1991 Risto Rännäli, Ambassador (based in Algiers)
1991-1995 Jan Groop, Ambassador (based in Algiers)
1995-1996 Roope Jussila, chargé d'affaires (Tunis)
1996-1998 Carl-Erik Smedslund, chargé d'affaires (Tunis)
1998-2002 Carl-Erik Smedslund, chargé d'affaires (Tunis)
2003-2007 Kaija Ilander, Ambassador (side accreditation Algiers/Tripoli)
2007-2010 Laura Reinilä, Ambassador (side accreditation Tripoli)
2010-2013 Tiina Jortikka-Laitinen, Ambassador (side accreditation Tripoli)
2013-2017 Tanja Jääskeläinen, Ambassador (side accreditation Tripoli)
2017-2019 Leena Gardemeister, Ambassador (side accreditation Tripoli)
2019-2022 Pekka Hukka, Ambassador (side accreditation Tripoli)
2022- Teemu Sepponen, Ambassador (side accreditation Tripoli)