Tunisia: The Prime Minister signs...a building permit.

The BIC group plans to invest 12 million euros in Tunisia to build a writing instrument factory in El Azib, on land granted by the Bizerte competitiveness cluster. This factory, which could be operational in 2013, promises to create 600 jobs.

This news has pleased job seekers, especially since the project is expandable and the prospect of creating other jobs is certain. However, to start its project, the developer requested a building permit that the regional governor was supposed to grant. Ultimately, the file ended up on the Prime Minister's desk, who signed the document.

Why did this seemingly commonplace process reach the highest level? Why did Mr. Hamadi Jebali have to decide on a formality that is the responsibility of the region? It is believed that the regional authorities did not want to "assume responsibility." But what does that mean? Wasn't the land transfer agreement duly signed between the developer and the land developer? Why this hesitation when such a project should open up real professional opportunities?

M. BELLAKHAL

Investirentunisie.net

Published May 22, 2012.

Posted online May 22, 2012.