Tunisian-Austrian Business Relations about to be Expanded

The exhibition area introduces Tunisian companies and products, while the B2B meetings provide opportunities to establish personal contact with potential local business partners. / Picture: © Tunisian and Austrian crossed flags by Vindobona

The forum aims to introduce the Tunisian economy, different industrial sectors and the new investment law to shed a light on the possibilities and opportunities for partnerships and cooperation with Austrian businesses.

At the "Economic Forum on Tunisia", which will be opened by Senator Dr. Richard Schenz, President of the Austro-Arab Chamber of Commerce and H.E. Mr. Mohamed Mezghani, Ambassador of the Republic of Tunisia to Austria, the following economic topics will be discussed:

• Overview on Tunisia, Political and economic situation,
• Investment law in Tunisia, chances, opportunities and possibilities,
• Cooperation possibilities, access to the Tunisian market, fields of mutual interest and
• The role of commercial agents in trade and economy

Following the Economic Forum, the participants will have the opportunity for B2B meetings and networking in the exhibition area.

Being among the most competitive economies in Africa and the Arab world, the Tunisian economy offers businesses an environment of higher quality thanks to the education level of its active population, the sound macroeconomic management and the quality of its public institutions that are particularly favorable to business competitiveness.

In terms of Global Competitiveness, Tunisia is ranked 1st in North Africa regarding:

• Talent Competitiveness | "Global Talent Competitiveness Index 2017, INSEAD"
• Entrepreneurship Ecosystem | "Global Entrepreneurship Index 2017, GEDI"
• Innovation | "Bloomberg Innovation Index 2017, Bloomberg"
• Competitive Industrial Performance | "Competitive Industrial Performance Index 2016, UNIDO"
• ICT Development | "Measuring the Information Society Report, 2016"
• Transition to E-commerce | "B2C E-commerce Index 2016, UNCTAD"

Tunisia also exports various goods, services, agricultural and food products and had a positive trade volume with Austria during the last years.

Tunisia ranks:

• 1st worldwide exporter of dates
• 2nd African producer of car components
• 2nd exporter of organic products in Africa
• 3rd worldwide producer of olive oil for the 2015-2016 harvest season

Trade openness has increased sharply over the past two decades in Tunisia.

The gradual easing of tariff and non-tariff barriers, the signing of free trade agreements and the creation of an attractive regime for fully exporting companies - known as the offshore regime - have played an important role.

Tunisia joined the World Trade Organization in 1995. In 1996, the North African country signed an association agreement with the European Union aimed at the gradual dismantling of tariff and non-tariff barriers and obtained the status of privileged partner in 2012.

Tunisia’s negotiations on the Comprehensive Free Trade Agreement (ALECA) are also underway.

Tunisia has a free trade agreement with Turkey, that was signed in 2004 and fully implemented in 2014.

Its tariff regime was furthersimplified, with a reduction in the number of tariff bands from 54 in 2003 to 3 in 2017.

In the end, the share of Tunisia’s exports and imports in GDP approached the OECD average in 2016, to be higher than many emerging countries.

Tunisia's openness and integration into global value chains has improved significantly since the mid-1990s, reflecting the country's comparative advantages. Exports have surged, led by the manufacturing sector, with a shift towards more technology- and skills-intensive goods.

The high level of education among its young generation is an additional strength and led to an advanced ICT industry. The upscaling and diversification of exports should enable the Tunisian economy to grow fast.

Tunisia has as well a modern industry producing electrical appliances and equipment, textile, leather and many more.

Event:
Tuesday, 20 November 2018
13:00 – 18:00 hrs
SO/ Vienna (former “Sofitel Vienna Stephansdom”)
Praterstrasse 1
1020 Vienna
Austria

Further information is available at: http://aacc.at/blog/1/47/UPCOMING-EVENT-Economic-Forum-on-Tunisia-amp-B2B/