| |
|
|
| |
Home
>
World
> Africa
> Tunisia
|
Business Profile
Economy: Tunisia lacks the vast natural resources of its North African neighbours, but careful and successful economic management has brought the country reasonable prosperity. Annual growth over the last five years has been between 3.8 and five per cent and current inflation is just three per cent. Only unemployment at 16 per cent is a cause for concern. Agriculture and mining are the foundations of the economy. The main agricultural products are wheat, barley, olive oil, wine and fruit, but other foodstuffs have to be imported. Large quantities of phosphate ores are mined along with iron, lead, aluminium fluoride and zinc. Tunisia is also a modest oil exporter, although this industry has recently been in decline and known reserves are not expected to last much beyond 2005. Natural gas fields are more extensive. There is a small manufacturing sector involved in processing organic chemicals derived from petroleum and purification of phosphate ore. Other industries produce textiles, construction materials, machinery, chemicals, paper and wood. Tourism dominates the service sector, though the industry is sensitive to the regional political climate (particularly relations with Algeria and Libya).
Government economic policy during the last decade has followed the path of deregulation, including abolition of trade controls, privatisation and making the Dinar fully convertible. Tunisia’s most important trade links are with the EU whose members (principally France and Germany) account for three-quarters of all the country’s trade. Economic relations were strengthened during 1995 by the signing of a free trade agreement with the EU, which has been introduced gradually over a 12-year period starting from 1998. This is similar to the association agreements signed by would-be members and, although there is no prospect of it ever joining the EU, the deal was a considerable diplomatic coup for the Tunisian government. Tunisia is a member of the Union of the Arab Maghreb and of various pan-Arab economic organisations.
Business: Arabic and French are the most widely used languages in business circles and a knowledge of either is useful. Interpreter services are available. Appointments are required. Office hours: Mon-Fri 0830-1300 and 1500-1745 (winter); Mon-Sat 0830-1300 (summer). Government office opening hours may vary by half an hour.
Commercial Information: The following organisations can offer advice: Agence de Promotion de l’Industrie (API), 63 rue de Syrie, 1002 Tunis (tel: (71) 792 144; fax: (71) 782 482; website: www.tunisieindustrie.nat.tn); or Chambre de Commerce et d’Industrie de Tunis, 1 rue des Entrepreneurs, 1000 Tunis (tel: (1) 333 945; fax: (1) 340 796; e-mail: ccitunis@planet.tn).
Conferences/Conventions: The following organisation can supply information: Direction du Marketing at the Office National du Tourisme Tunisien (see Contact Addresses section).
Copyright © 2003 Columbus Publishing Ltd.
Terms and Conditions apply.
|
|
|
|
|
