Tunisia, gateway to Africa

A Tunisian-Turkish partnership day, held on Tuesday in Tunis, focused on ways to explore business and partnership opportunities. The purpose of this event is to stimulate trade and tourist relations and prompt exchange of expertise between business circles, on the occasion of the visit of a mission of Turkish businessmen to Tunisia. Deputy chairman of the Turkish Confederation of Businessmen and Industrialists, "Tuskon," Ahmet Cigera said in his address that Tuskon seeks to direct Russian tourists to Tunisia, in co-ordination with Turkish tour operators based in Russia. In the trade field, Turkey plans to increase the volume of exchanges with African via Tunisia, which is a gateway to the African continent, particularly in the textile and building sectors, he said. He announced that three Turkish businessmen missions are planned to visit, by late this year, Tunisia. Trade and Tourism Minister Mehdi Houas said that the sought-after target is to boost trade exchanges between the two countries and encourage Turkish businessmen to settle in Tunisia. He emphasised the political will expressed by both sides to energise bilateral economic co-operation, particularly after Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan's recent visit to Tunisia. The minister said that the volume of exports to Turkey doubled between 2004 and 2010, reaching 350 million dinars, thanks to the establishment of the free-trade area in 2005. Yet, he said, only 22 Turkish companies are now established in Tunisia. The Minister said that the business environment in Tunisia will help attract more investors to the country. "Tunisia will rely on the services sector to become the Mediterranean Singapore," said Mr. Houas. The Turkish delegation includes 34 heads of business operating in different sectors, particularly textile, food industry, building material, leather and footwear, furniture. The partnership day is co-organised by the Confederation of Citizen Enterprises of Tunisia and the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Tunis, in association with the Confederation of Turkish Businessmen and Industrialists and the Association of the World of Labour of Marmara.