In November 2025 I was invited by Andreas Ganswindt, founder of nearshorefriends, to a business dinner in Tervuren, Belgium. With me were fifteen experts of different domains from Germany, Tunisia, Belgium, Denmark, and Silicon Valley.
The discussions during the evening focused on the strategic advantages of nearshore software development — with Tunisia standing out for its maturity, talent availability, and European alignment.
Tunisia’s Rise as a Nearshore Hub
As demand for skilled software developers continues to grow, many European companies are looking beyond their borders for reliable and cost-effective nearshore options. Tunisia is quickly emerging as a compelling destination — particularly for French-speaking and European IT teams.
With strong technical talent, cultural alignment, and close proximity to Europe, Tunisia offers an attractive combination for modern software development.
Tunisia has developed rapidly into a competitive nearshore software development location. Its convenient time zone overlap with Europe enables real-time collaboration, while a growing number of computer science graduates is strengthening the local talent pool year after year.
As Andreas noted during the event:
“Many French companies are already nearshoring to North Africa — and Tunisia is becoming a clear strategic winner.”
Why Tunisia Works for European Companies
Cultural and Linguistic Fit
One of Tunisia’s biggest advantages is its cultural and linguistic compatibility with Europe. French is widely spoken, English proficiency is growing, and European business practices are well understood.
Walid Belghith, a former Accenture Manager, summarized this well:
“For many young Tunisian IT specialists, contributing to European technology projects is both a privilege and a major career step.”
From my experience, this shared communication style leads to more reliable project execution and smoother collaboration with European partners.
Strong Talent Pool and Competitive Costs
Tunisia produces a large number of IT graduates each year — comparable to much larger markets in the region. This ensures access to talented, motivated engineers at competitive rates, while maintaining high technical standards.
Andreas highlighted that „Tunisia has the same number of IT graduates as larger Morocco“.
As I realized many young, ambitious people want to improve their lives by working in IT. This influx of skilled graduates ensures a continuous supply of capable software developers proficient in the latest technologies.
It also ensures European companies can easily find talent with the expertise needed to drive innovation. By tapping into this young workforce, businesses can enhance their competitive advantage and stay ahead in the digital landscape.
Solid IT Infrastructure and Engineering Quality of Software Development
The Tunisian government and private sector are making significant investments in IT infrastructure and technical education. This equippes Tunisian developers with modern skills and methodologies, including agile development and cloud technologies. Tunisian teams are increasingly trusted with complex projects such as system modernization, platform development, and enterprise integrations.
Digital Transformation and AI in Nearshore Projects
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is becoming a key accelerator in nearshore software development, especially for legacy system modernization. Tunisian engineers are increasingly using AI-powered tools to automate refactoring, improve code quality, and speed up development.
Leveraging AI for Legacy System Migration
The integration of Artificial Intelligence is revolutionizing software development, particularly in legacy system migration.
Paula Alves from San Francisco, the heart of Silicon Valley, delivered expert talks on using AI to migrate large legacy systems — transforming “dinosaur” code into modern architectures — and highlighted how these techniques can be integrated into nearshore software development engagements for faster, cost-effective modernization.
These AI solutions automate repetitive tasks, create professional documentation while also reducing the risk and cost associated with such projects. By leveraging AI, businesses can seamlessly transition to modern architectures, enhancing their digital capabilities.
Proven Collaboration with European Teams
Minimal time zone differences, cultural proximity, and easy travel connections — including daily flights from Brussels and Munich to Tunis — make collaboration straightforward.
Nearshorefriends supports European companies by building and scaling high-performing engineering teams across Tunisia, Portugal, Bulgaria, Ukraine, and Vietnam — ensuring the right mix of location, expertise, and collaboration model.
Importance of Building Strong Partnerships
The event in Tervuren underscores the importance of building strong partnerships in the nearshore software development sector. For European tech firms looking to expand their capabilities, finding a reliable Tunisian partner is crucial.
By working closely with Tunisian teams, businesses can leverage their expertise, enhance collaboration, and drive innovation. This collaborative approach ensures projects are aligned with business goals, leading to successful outcomes and long-term growth. Strong partnerships also facilitate effective communication and cultural understanding, vital for project management.
Looking Ahead: Tunisia’s Role in the European IT Market
From my perspective Tunisia is well positioned to become a long-term pillar of Europe’s nearshore ecosystem. With its expanding talent base, competitive cost structure, and growing expertise in AI-driven development, the country offers both stability and innovation.
For European companies seeking reliable nearshore partnerships, Tunisia represents a mature, forward-looking option.
Getting Started with IT Nearshoring
Are you interested to explore the possibilities of nearshore software development in Tunisia? Nearshorefriends offers several resources to help you on your journey:
- Take the Nearshore Readiness Test to assess your company’s preparedness.
- Use the Nearshore Calculator to estimate cost savings and ROI
- Need support using Artificial Intelligence solutions in software projects? Contact us!
