Tunisia: German businesses remain relatively optimistic for 2011
5 July 2011
Read by 1442 persons
To assess the current economic situation of exporting companies with German capital participation in Tunisia and to understand their prospects for the current year, the Tunisian-German Chamber of Industry and Commerce, AHK Tunisia, conducted a survey based on a series of questions sent to 105 companies. The questionnaire return rate was 60%.
"This allows us to understand changes and trends over a longer period, also taking into account the effects of last January's popular revolution," said Dagmar Ossenbrink, Managing Director of AHK Tunisia, at a press conference held on Monday, July 4, 2011 in Tunis, in the presence of Riadh Bey, director of the LINK research office, and Raouf Ben Debba, president of AHK Tunisia.
Export Growth in 2010
Regarding exports of German companies in Tunisia, the situation improved in 2010 compared to 2009 and 2008. According to the survey, the proportion of companies that saw their turnover increase rose from 29% in 2009 to 66% in 2010. An increase of more than 10% concerned 34% of the companies surveyed, compared to 14% in 2009.
However, a clear difference is noted between the textile sector and the electrotechnical sector. While 67% of participating companies in the electrotechnical sector recorded an increase of more than 10% in export turnover, only 16% of those in the textile industry achieved the same increase.
Staffing Changes
In 2010, 62% of companies increased their workforce. For 32% of companies, staffing levels remained stable. Similar to export turnover growth, two trends are emerging regarding staffing changes. In this regard, 77% of companies in the electrotechnical industry recruited additional personnel. However, in the textile sector, no company reported a significant increase (+10%) in its workforce, compared to 44% in the electrotechnical sector.
In terms of job cuts, 6% of the companies concerned reduced their workforce in 2010, compared to 39% in 2009.
It should be recalled that the companies that participated in this survey employ more than 30,000 people.
2011 Outlook
Despite lower activity than forecast for 2010, the survey showed that 28% of companies anticipate an increase in their workforce in 2011. Companies in the electrotechnical industry have relatively more optimistic expectations (39%) than the textile sector (20%), where more than half of the companies do not anticipate any change in staffing.
The outlook for turnover in 2011 remains relatively optimistic, despite the post-revolution effect. Indeed, 44% of the companies surveyed anticipate an increase in their exports. Nevertheless, 24% of the companies interviewed expect a decrease in their export turnover, and 26% believe there will be no change compared to 2010.
Published July 5, 2011
Posted online July 5, 2011
Webmanagercenter.com
"This allows us to understand changes and trends over a longer period, also taking into account the effects of last January's popular revolution," said Dagmar Ossenbrink, Managing Director of AHK Tunisia, at a press conference held on Monday, July 4, 2011 in Tunis, in the presence of Riadh Bey, director of the LINK research office, and Raouf Ben Debba, president of AHK Tunisia.
Export Growth in 2010
Regarding exports of German companies in Tunisia, the situation improved in 2010 compared to 2009 and 2008. According to the survey, the proportion of companies that saw their turnover increase rose from 29% in 2009 to 66% in 2010. An increase of more than 10% concerned 34% of the companies surveyed, compared to 14% in 2009.
However, a clear difference is noted between the textile sector and the electrotechnical sector. While 67% of participating companies in the electrotechnical sector recorded an increase of more than 10% in export turnover, only 16% of those in the textile industry achieved the same increase.
Staffing Changes
In 2010, 62% of companies increased their workforce. For 32% of companies, staffing levels remained stable. Similar to export turnover growth, two trends are emerging regarding staffing changes. In this regard, 77% of companies in the electrotechnical industry recruited additional personnel. However, in the textile sector, no company reported a significant increase (+10%) in its workforce, compared to 44% in the electrotechnical sector.
In terms of job cuts, 6% of the companies concerned reduced their workforce in 2010, compared to 39% in 2009.
It should be recalled that the companies that participated in this survey employ more than 30,000 people.
2011 Outlook
Despite lower activity than forecast for 2010, the survey showed that 28% of companies anticipate an increase in their workforce in 2011. Companies in the electrotechnical industry have relatively more optimistic expectations (39%) than the textile sector (20%), where more than half of the companies do not anticipate any change in staffing.
The outlook for turnover in 2011 remains relatively optimistic, despite the post-revolution effect. Indeed, 44% of the companies surveyed anticipate an increase in their exports. Nevertheless, 24% of the companies interviewed expect a decrease in their export turnover, and 26% believe there will be no change compared to 2010.
Published July 5, 2011
Posted online July 5, 2011
Webmanagercenter.com
