Tunisia-Large Surfaces: 900 Million Dinars of Investments and 20,000 Jobs in Prospect!
7 December 2012
Read by 1832 persons
The establishment of large commercial surfaces is now subject to new conditions. It was during a press conference held this Wednesday, December 5, 2012, in Tunis, that the Minister of Commerce, Béchir Zaafouri, announced these new conditions governing the granting of authorizations for the creation of hypermarkets or shopping centers in Tunisia. These clauses were approved during a recent ministerial council meeting in Tunis.
A commission in charge of studying projects and investment intentions in the large distribution sector has been created for this purpose. In the first stage, it is composed of representatives from the Ministry of Commerce, the Interior, Equipment, Environment and Social Affairs, as well as the Central Bank. Representatives from other ministries, such as the Ministry of Investment and Regional Development, will join this commission. The opening of the large-surface market will allow Tunisia to receive investments of the order of 900 million dinars, according to the forecasts of the Ministry of Commerce. This establishment should allow the creation of 20,000 jobs.
In the park of large surfaces with an area greater than 2000 m2, plots of 22,500 m2 will be allocated to hypermarkets. 7500 m2 is the area set for specialized hypermarkets such as DIY, the minister indicated, specifying that investor requests are for an area of 80,000 m2, while the ministry is aiming for 90,000 m2 by 2016. According to the minister, all investors are Tunisian but can enter into franchise agreements with foreigners.
However, regarding medium-sized surfaces, the minister indicated that the required area is approximately 180,000 square meters.
In Greater Tunis, 4 large surfaces in the form of hypermarkets are planned on areas ranging from 7000 m2 to 10,000 m2. 7 investment requests have been received by the ministry, while 2 hypermarkets are planned in the Sahel region, on an area ranging from 7500 m2 to 10,000 m2. 5 requests from investors have been received in this context.
In the Sfax region, approximately 4 large surfaces covering 6000 m2 are planned, for which 4 requests have been received.
In the inland regions, only areas of 2000 to 4000 m2 are proposed for establishment, with 4 establishment requests in Gafsa, Kairouan and Sidi Bouzid received by the ministry.
Returning to the conditions for granting authorizations, Béchir Zaafouri indicated that the new measures for the establishment of hypermarkets and shopping centers in Tunisia have been revised following the pressing demand from investors who want to establish themselves in the large distribution sector, whose contribution remains very minimal to this day and does not exceed 18% of the turnover of commerce, compared to 50% in Europe, hence the ministry's intention to reach 50%.
In the past, the large distribution market was dominated by the family of the deposed president, on the grounds that large surfaces penalize small traders.
On the other hand, according to the minister, a single hypermarket can offer approximately 1000 jobs. In addition, there is freedom of choice with the possibility of ensuring the product and its components. This distribution method will also allow Tunisian industrialists to improve the quality of their products, as well as packaging, and increase their export opportunities.
On the criteria retained by the Commission in charge of studying establishment requests, the project must meet national needs in terms of the areas requested and their contribution to regional development and employment. It is also a question of studying the project's capacity to create competition and the balance between large surfaces and shopping centers, and studying, among other things, the type of services offered and their effects on the commercial sector. It is also a matter of protecting the environment and agricultural land and studying to what extent the project is in harmony with its environment.
The commission will also take into consideration the use, within the framework of the project, of renewable energies and ecological construction.
Outside the regions covered, the establishment of large surfaces and shopping centers is subject to the conditions of territorial development and the environment. The investor will also take charge of the development and construction of bridges, structures and necessary infrastructure to ensure the connection with surrounding roads in order not to disrupt traffic and road safety.
Khadija Taboubi.
Africanmanager.com
Published on December 5, 2012.
Posted online on December 7, 2012.
A commission in charge of studying projects and investment intentions in the large distribution sector has been created for this purpose. In the first stage, it is composed of representatives from the Ministry of Commerce, the Interior, Equipment, Environment and Social Affairs, as well as the Central Bank. Representatives from other ministries, such as the Ministry of Investment and Regional Development, will join this commission. The opening of the large-surface market will allow Tunisia to receive investments of the order of 900 million dinars, according to the forecasts of the Ministry of Commerce. This establishment should allow the creation of 20,000 jobs.
In the park of large surfaces with an area greater than 2000 m2, plots of 22,500 m2 will be allocated to hypermarkets. 7500 m2 is the area set for specialized hypermarkets such as DIY, the minister indicated, specifying that investor requests are for an area of 80,000 m2, while the ministry is aiming for 90,000 m2 by 2016. According to the minister, all investors are Tunisian but can enter into franchise agreements with foreigners.
However, regarding medium-sized surfaces, the minister indicated that the required area is approximately 180,000 square meters.
In Greater Tunis, 4 large surfaces in the form of hypermarkets are planned on areas ranging from 7000 m2 to 10,000 m2. 7 investment requests have been received by the ministry, while 2 hypermarkets are planned in the Sahel region, on an area ranging from 7500 m2 to 10,000 m2. 5 requests from investors have been received in this context.
In the Sfax region, approximately 4 large surfaces covering 6000 m2 are planned, for which 4 requests have been received.
In the inland regions, only areas of 2000 to 4000 m2 are proposed for establishment, with 4 establishment requests in Gafsa, Kairouan and Sidi Bouzid received by the ministry.
Returning to the conditions for granting authorizations, Béchir Zaafouri indicated that the new measures for the establishment of hypermarkets and shopping centers in Tunisia have been revised following the pressing demand from investors who want to establish themselves in the large distribution sector, whose contribution remains very minimal to this day and does not exceed 18% of the turnover of commerce, compared to 50% in Europe, hence the ministry's intention to reach 50%.
In the past, the large distribution market was dominated by the family of the deposed president, on the grounds that large surfaces penalize small traders.
On the other hand, according to the minister, a single hypermarket can offer approximately 1000 jobs. In addition, there is freedom of choice with the possibility of ensuring the product and its components. This distribution method will also allow Tunisian industrialists to improve the quality of their products, as well as packaging, and increase their export opportunities.
On the criteria retained by the Commission in charge of studying establishment requests, the project must meet national needs in terms of the areas requested and their contribution to regional development and employment. It is also a question of studying the project's capacity to create competition and the balance between large surfaces and shopping centers, and studying, among other things, the type of services offered and their effects on the commercial sector. It is also a matter of protecting the environment and agricultural land and studying to what extent the project is in harmony with its environment.
The commission will also take into consideration the use, within the framework of the project, of renewable energies and ecological construction.
Outside the regions covered, the establishment of large surfaces and shopping centers is subject to the conditions of territorial development and the environment. The investor will also take charge of the development and construction of bridges, structures and necessary infrastructure to ensure the connection with surrounding roads in order not to disrupt traffic and road safety.
Khadija Taboubi.
Africanmanager.com
Published on December 5, 2012.
Posted online on December 7, 2012.
