Tunisia: Is our economy suited to large companies?
26 April 2012
Read by 1495 persons
Of 2,172 foreign industrial units, Tunisia currently has 104 companies with Arab participation or Arab offshore companies. Foreign investment accounts for 37% of the industrial fabric. Arab investments in Tunisia remain below expectations: they represent only 2% of the country's industrial fabric.
Mr. Ferid Tounsi, director general of the Agency for the Promotion of Industry and Innovation, indicated that this situation is due to the absence of promotional campaigns for the Tunisia-international production site in the Arab world and the particular interest that Arab investors have shown in economic real estate. The CEO of APII wishes to double, in the medium term, the number of Arab offshore companies in Tunisia.
Mr. Hamadi Jebali, Head of Government, stated that the situation in Tunisia is no different from that of all Arab countries: "Investment exchanges do not reflect a willingness of economic actors to get closer and promote partnership."
An opinion shared by Arab officials, politicians, and businessmen participating in the work of the 6th Arab Colloquium on Small and Medium-Sized Industries (SMIs), from April 24 to 26, 2012 in Tunis. Mr. Jebali specified that this event represents an opportune occasion to take advantage of the expertise of certain countries in terms of supporting SMEs and strengthening cooperation between economic actors, businessmen, and Arab supervisory bodies.
Mr. Ridha Saidi, Secretary of State for Economic Affairs at the Ministry of Industry, noted that Tunisian SMEs account for 19% of GDP and 80% of exports. Hence the importance of strengthening their sustainability and their role in the Tunisian economy, especially since this interest in SMEs stems from their ability to generate employment and wealth and above all its flexibility: "The size of our economy is not yet adapted to large companies."
According to some participants, Arab SMEs face a major handicap, namely financing, which requires more effort in Arab countries where the rate is around 8.3% of total business financing in the Arab world. The Arab region currently has more than 12 million SMEs, a number that should be revised upwards soon to contribute more to employment and GDP. In Tunisia, SMEs represent 92% of total industrial companies, which invites all stakeholders to multiply efforts to create an environment that allows these SMEs to play the role of a vector of wealth creation and employment.
More than 200 businessmen are taking part in this event. Industrialists involved in the "Tunisian business world" are called upon to take advantage of the presence of Arab investors to forge win-win partnerships and boost employment in Tunisia.
Meriem.Kh
Investir-en-tunisie.net
Published on April 26, 2012.
Posted online on April 26, 2012.
Mr. Ferid Tounsi, director general of the Agency for the Promotion of Industry and Innovation, indicated that this situation is due to the absence of promotional campaigns for the Tunisia-international production site in the Arab world and the particular interest that Arab investors have shown in economic real estate. The CEO of APII wishes to double, in the medium term, the number of Arab offshore companies in Tunisia.
Mr. Hamadi Jebali, Head of Government, stated that the situation in Tunisia is no different from that of all Arab countries: "Investment exchanges do not reflect a willingness of economic actors to get closer and promote partnership."
An opinion shared by Arab officials, politicians, and businessmen participating in the work of the 6th Arab Colloquium on Small and Medium-Sized Industries (SMIs), from April 24 to 26, 2012 in Tunis. Mr. Jebali specified that this event represents an opportune occasion to take advantage of the expertise of certain countries in terms of supporting SMEs and strengthening cooperation between economic actors, businessmen, and Arab supervisory bodies.
Mr. Ridha Saidi, Secretary of State for Economic Affairs at the Ministry of Industry, noted that Tunisian SMEs account for 19% of GDP and 80% of exports. Hence the importance of strengthening their sustainability and their role in the Tunisian economy, especially since this interest in SMEs stems from their ability to generate employment and wealth and above all its flexibility: "The size of our economy is not yet adapted to large companies."
According to some participants, Arab SMEs face a major handicap, namely financing, which requires more effort in Arab countries where the rate is around 8.3% of total business financing in the Arab world. The Arab region currently has more than 12 million SMEs, a number that should be revised upwards soon to contribute more to employment and GDP. In Tunisia, SMEs represent 92% of total industrial companies, which invites all stakeholders to multiply efforts to create an environment that allows these SMEs to play the role of a vector of wealth creation and employment.
More than 200 businessmen are taking part in this event. Industrialists involved in the "Tunisian business world" are called upon to take advantage of the presence of Arab investors to forge win-win partnerships and boost employment in Tunisia.
Meriem.Kh
Investir-en-tunisie.net
Published on April 26, 2012.
Posted online on April 26, 2012.
