World Bank Group's IFC Partners with Marquardt to Support Advanced Manufacturing and Job Creation in Tunisia

TUNIS, Tunisia, October 21, 2026 - More than 400 jobs are expected to be created in Tunisia over the coming years as Marquardt Group expands its automotive manufacturing operations, increases higher-value production and strengthens the country’s role in the global automotive value chain, with support from IFC, the private sector arm of the World Bank Group.

IFC is providing up to EUR 52 million to support Marquardt’s investment program across three manufacturing facilities in the greater Tunis area. The financing will help expand production of advanced automotive mechatronic components and support working capital needs as the company’s operations grow.

Tunisia’s automotive components industry includes close to 300 companies and directly employs an estimated 90,000 people. Tunisia’s exports from the sector reached approximately TND 10 billion in 2025 – over 5 percent of GDP. Expanding higher-value manufacturing can help Tunisia build on this industrial base, strengthen its position in global value chains, and create more economic opportunities.

The project is also expected to expand opportunities for women, who currently represent about 65 percent of Marquardt's workforce in Tunisia, by advising the company on ways to strengthen women’s pathways into managerial and technical positions. The financing will also support greener manufacturing through solar photovoltaic installations and energy-efficiency measures.

“Tunisia has the talent and industrial capabilities to strengthen its position in global manufacturing value chains and create more and better jobs,” said Alex Kremer, World Bank Group Country Manager for Tunisia. “Supporting private investment in value-added manufacturing is an important part of that effort. This investment will help expand production, strengthen skills, and create new opportunities for Tunisians, including women.”

Creating more and better jobs is at the center of the World Bank Group’s strategy. Value-added manufacturing is one of five sectors identified by the World Bank Group as having strong potential for job creation, alongside infrastructure and energy, agribusiness, healthcare, and tourism. The Group’s approach to job creation focuses on foundational infrastructure and human capital, a stronger environment for businesses to grow, and mobilizing private capital at scale.

Founded in 1925 and headquartered in Germany, Marquardt is a global supplier of mechatronic systems for the automotive, home appliance, and industrial sectors. Marquardt has operated in Tunisia since 1991 and today has three facilities producing electrical switches and advanced mechatronic components, alongside research and development activities.

“Tunisia is and will remain a key location for us, and the region offers ideal conditions for our growth plans. Here, we manufacture control elements that will shape the vehicle interiors of tomorrow. At the same time, we are creating new opportunities for numerous engineers, technicians, and production workers in the region," says Raymond Engelbrecht, Chief Financial Officer of the Marquardt Group.

The project supports the World Bank Group’s FY23–27 Country Partnership Framework for Tunisia, including its focus on private sector-led growth, job creation, and deeper integration into global automotive value chains. This transaction reflects IFC's continued commitment to Tunisia, building on its existing presence and supporting Marquardt's continued investment in the country. Since beginning its partnership with Tunisia in 1962, IFC has worked on more than 50 projects with local and international partners in the country, mobilizing and investing more than $1 billion in projects and delivering more than 150 investment and advisory programs to support small businesses, manufacturers, agribusinesses, infrastructure development, and the financial sector.