Invest in Tunisia

“We have endeavored, throughout the two decades, to

introduce numerous structural reforms into our economy. We
have acted to develop and modernize this economy, and to
provide it with the attributes of strength and efficiency, so
that it can evolve up to speed with the rhythms of the world
economy and meet the challenge of competitiveness and
exports.

Thanks to these deep reforms, we have managed to achieve

positive results in terms of economic development, as reflected
by the country’s continuous pace of growth, and as testified by
specialized institutions and bodies around the world. We have
achieved this success despite our limited national resources,
and despite the difficulties resulting from the globalization of
economy and price fluctuation on the world market.”

Excerpt from a speech by the President of the Republic,

Zine El Abidine BEN ALI - March 20th, 2009
2
Tunisia
Share performances

5 Tunisia in a nutshell

6 A competitive economy that works well

8 Tunisia at the crossroads of continents

10 A knowledge-based society

12 A dense and modern infrastructure

14 A favorable business environment

16 An attractive site for investment

18 A country where you can enjoy life

20 FIPA-Tunisia
 Bizerte

Tabarka Tunis
Beja Kelibia
Jendouba
Nabeul
Zaghouan Hammamet
El Kef Siliana
Enfidha Sousse
Kairouan Monastir

Mahdia
Kasserine El Djem
Main cities

Highways Sidi Bouzid

Ports
Sfax
Railways
Gafsa
Skhira
Airports
Gabes
National borders Tozeur Jerba

Kebili
Zarzis
Mednine

Tataouine

Latvia
Denmark Lithuania

Ireland Netherlands Poland Belarus

Great Britain
Belgium Germany
Czech Republic Ukraine
Francfort
Paris Austria
Switzerland Hungary
France Romania

Italy Bulgaria
Corsica
Spain
Sardinia
Portugal Greece
Mediterranean sea Turkey
Tunis

Morocco
Tunisia
Tunisie

Algeria
Libya

4
 Tunisia
in a nutshell

Geographic location
Area 162,155 km2
Location North Africa, 140 km from Italy
1,300 km of coastline along the Mediterranean
Climate Mediterranean
Time zone GMT + 1
Capital Tunis (2.4 million inhabitants in the city & suburbs)
Main cities Sfax, Sousse, Bizerte, Nabeul, Gabes, Kairouan, El Kef, Jendouba, Beja...

Population
Population 10,434,000 inhabitants
Working population 47.3% of the overall population
Middle class 80%
Annual income per capita 5,142 TND
Life expectancy 74.3 years
Official language Arabic
Languages commonly used French, English, Italian

Institutional framework
System Presidential
Administrative divisions 24 governorates, further subdivided into delegations

Currency
Tunisian dinar (TND) TND 1 = 1,000 millimes

Exchange rate
Average rate for 2009 TND 1 = Euro 0.532
= US$ 0.741

Key figures
2009 2010 (E)
GDP (in million TND) 53,419.1 57,553.8
Exports (in million TND) 26,680.7 28,868.7
Investment rate (% of GDP) 25.9% 26.5%
Savings rate (% of GNAI*) 23.1% 23.3%
Budget deficit (% of GDP) 3.8% 3.6%
Rate of external indebtedness (% of GNAI*) 41.5% 39.5%
Debt service ratio (% of current receipts) 11.4% 9.6%
*GNAI: gross national available income
(E): estimated
Ministry of Development and International Cooperation, Economic Budget 2010 5
 A competitive economy
that works well

A competitive economy
Thanks to its proximity to Europe, its socio-political stability, its
highly skilled human resources and its effective integration into the
Euro-Mediterranean area, Tunisia features several advantages making
it a real success story in the Mediterranean area.

1
Tunisia is ranked
st inthetheMediterranean
southern shore of
and in
Africa according to the Global
It is quoted as a model of economic success by international institutions and is Competitiveness Report 2009-
awarded first rate rankings in terms of competitiveness across the African and 2010, released by the Davos World
Southern Mediterranean area. Economic Forum and 40th out
of 133 developed and emerging
countries in terms of global
The Global Competitiveness Index competitiveness.

Rank Country Score

7 Germany 5.37
16 France 5.13
18 Belgium 5.09
33 Spain 4.59
40 Tunisia 4.50
48 Italy 4.31
61 Turkey 4.16
70 Egypt 4.04
73 Morocco 4.03
Global Competitiveness Report 2009-2010, Davos World Economic Forum

A diversified economy enjoying ongoing growth

For a decade, Tunisia has been characterized by a sustained and continuous
growth.
Thus, despite the persistent instability of the global economy, Tunisia is pursuing
its commitment to diversity and to building an economy based on knowledge and Low inflation
on technology intensive activities.
Over the last five years inflation has on average
The 2008 global crisis has not, however, prevented Tunisia from recording a
been kept at 3.6% thanks to the strengthening
growth rate of around 3% in 2009 and which should reach 4% in 2010.
of rules governing competition and to continuous
The services sector and the manufacturing industries account for 42.7% and
improvement in productivity. Hence, despite
17.6% of GDP respectively.
fluctuation in oil and food prices on the
international level in 2008 and 2009, the inflation
GDP structure – factor costs in 2009 rate was kept at 5% and 3.7% respectively.
In %

11.0 Agriculture & fishing Trends in the inflation rate

5.0
Non manufacturing industries In %
4.5
35.1 17.4 Manufacturing industries 2008
3.7
Tourism 2006
3.1
Transport 2009
17.6 Communications 2007
6.7 2.0
6.4 5.8 Other services
2005

6 Ministry of Development and International Cooperation, Economic Budget 2010 National Institute of Statistics, 2010
An economy open to the world
In 2009, exports of goods and services accounted for 50% of GDP. They recorded a drop of 6.5% at constant prices under the effects
of the crisis prevailing in the countries of the EU; Tunisia‘s main trading partner. This decline affected mainly the exports of goods
(mechanical and electrical products, textiles and energy). Exports of services (notably tourism) recorded a slight increase.
However, Tunisian exports remain diversified and are no more directly dependent on basic commodities (oil, phosphates). The mechanical
and electrical industries remain the largest exporting branch (20.2%) followed by textiles (19.7%).

“The business has survived quite well in 2009. The fall in exports to Europe was partially offset by the resilience of
the tourism sector and production increases in the sectors of mining (iron, phosphate) and energy (oil). Domestic
demand was supported by public investment and by household consumption boosted by a wage revaluation in
the public and private sectors.”
The French Insurance Company
for Foreign Trade “COFACE”, 2009

A low-risk economy
Tunisia has been awarded an investment rating by financial institutions and rating agencies since 1994.

Tunisia’s rating in 2009

US agencies Standard & Poor’s BBB

Moody’s Baa2
Fitch Rating BBB
European agency IBCA BBB
Japanese agency R&I A-

They said about Tunisia:

“Tunisia’s macroeconomic stability and resistance to shocks are
its main rating strengths.”
Charles SEVILLE, Director – Sovereign Group at FITCH, February 2009

7
 Tunisia
at the crossroads
of continents

A strategic position
Less than three hours flying time from major European and Middle
East cities, Tunisia is a preferred destination for those seeking a

1
foothold in this 800 million consumer market. Tunisia is the
st country from
the southern
Mediterranean
shore to join, since
January 2008, the
Free Trade Area of
the European Union.
Regular service
European and Middle Eastern markets are easily accessible through:
■ nine airports and 124 foreign airlines providing more than 1,400 weekly flights to Europe;

Average frequency of flights

per week

Country Frequency
France 571
Italy 172
Germany 169
Belgium 73
United Kingdom 68
Switzerland 54
Spain 32
Morocco 30
United Arab Emirates 17
Egypt 16
Saudi Arabia 14
The Tunisian Civil Aviation and Airports Authority, 2009

■ the existence of several ports and a modern maritime fleet to meet the requirements of security and speed. The diversity of activities of these
ports, their complementary role and their location allow for the accommodation of all types of ships and for processing all kinds of goods.
More than 8,000 vessels are accommodated annually. The shipping of goods reached 31 million tons in 2009;

Frequency of regularly-scheduled shipping lines for transport of merchandise (Port of Rades)

per week

City Frequency
Marseille (France) 7
Genoa (Italy), Valetta (Malta) 5
Valencia and Barcelona (Spain) 5
Livourna (Italy) 2
Gioia-Tauro, Pozzalo, Cagliari, Laspezia and Trapani (Italy) 1
Merchant Marine and Ports Office, 2009

■ one of the best telecommunication networks in Africa. Indeed, 33.3% of the population uses the Internet, with 381,982 subscribers in 2009
compared to 128,352 in 2007. The total telephone density per 100 inhabitants is 105.2%.
8
Free access to the European Union market
The European Union is Tunisia’s primary economic and commercial partner.
From January 1st, 2008, Tunisia was the first country of the southern Mediterranean shore to join the Free Trade Area of the European
Union, opening hence the door of a market of more than 500 million consumers.

Tunisian exports to the European Union market experienced a remarkable evolution. Their share in total exports increased from 51% in
1976 to 73.8% in 2009. Industrial goods represent about 80% of total exports to the European Union.

Tunisia is the leading industrial exporter in the southern shore of the Mediterranean to the European Union
according to the survey “National Industrial Strategy by 2016”, issued by Ernst & Young in 2008.

Ongoing integration of the Maghreb and Arab markets

Tunisia‘s exports to Maghreb and Middle Eastern countries have tripled over the past five years rising from 815 million dinars in 2004
to 2,377 million dinars in 2009.
This was possible thanks to:
■ preferential agreements with Maghreb and Arab countries,
■ bilateral agreements setting up free-trade zones with Turkey, Egypt, Morocco, Jordan, Iraq and Libya and governing trade with these
countries,
■ a regional agreement signed in 1998 and establishing the Arab Free Trade Area,
■ the Agadir Free Trade Agreement signed in 2004 between Jordan, Egypt, Morocco and Tunisia.

Preferential access to several markets

Tunisia is eligible for tariff reductions under the Generalized Preference System, mainly for manufactured, agricultural and handicraft
products with the United States, Canada, Japan, Switzerland and Australia. It is also eligible for preferential access to markets in several
African countries in the framework of bilateral agreements.

They said about Tunisia:

“ARDIA in Tunisia represents one of the main R&D centers of
our group ACTIA. This is a basis centralized in Tunisia to serve
other subsidiaries of our group located in France and more
widely in Europe, like Italy or England or even in the US and
China. Today it is a great success in view of our development.”
Cyril ROCHARD, General Manager of ARDIA, ACTIA GROUP

9
 A knowledge-based
society

A modern educational system

By allocating ¼ of its budget, 6.9% and 1.19% of GDP respectively
to education and R&D, Tunisia has continued to invest in its education

1
system to meet the requirements of economy.
Free and open to all, it is recognized among the best in the world.
Tunisia is the
st country on the southern shore
of the Mediterranean and in
Africa for:
■ the availability of scientists
and engineers,
■ the quality of its scientific
research institutions,
Quality of the educational system ■ the availability of
latest technologies,
Rank Country Score according to the Gobal
7 Belgium 5.6 Competitiveness Report
2009-2010, prepared by
19 Tunisia 4.9 the World Economic Forum
24 France 4.8 in Davos.
27 Germany 4.7
78 Spain 3.4
79 Turkey 3.4
87 Italy 3.3
112 Morocco 2.9
123 Egypt 2.6
(1= does not meet the needs of a competitive economy, 7= meets the needs of a competitive economy)
Global Competitiveness Report 2009-2010, Davos World Economic Forum

A large source of skilled labor at competitive costs

Tunisia delivers on the job market a significant number of graduates whose skills and
qualifications in technical fields are recognized internationally and at very competitive
costs. At comparable levels of qualifications and skills, Tunisia offers competitive
wage costs in proportions ranging from 1 to 5 compared to European countries.

An appropriate vocational training

In 2009, the vocational training system in Tunisia included 212 public centers located throughout the country, providing training for 110,600
students and trainees in 451 fields of specialization covering all economic sectors.

A higher education of good quality

The number of students in public higher education rose from 17,257 students in 1975 to 360,000 students in 2009. Female students
accounted for 59.5% of the student body.
More and more young people are majoring in computer and communications science, engineering and other technical curricula. The number
of graduates in the different fields of specialization reached 60,613 in 2008 including 3,834 engineers.

According to the study “National Industrial Strategy by the year 2016”, prepared by Ernst & Young in 2008, Tunisia is the
first country on the southern shore of the Mediterranean that annually trains more engineers and technicians per capita.

10
Skills in research and development
Young graduates of engineering schools and training centers in
Tunisia are prepared not only to meet the growing needs of skills
in industry but also to work in partnership with businesses to
develop innovation and research for the products of tomorrow.

Several international companies already have expertise centers in

Tunisia: ST MICROELECTRONICS, ACTIA, ALCATEL, KROMBERG
& SCHUBERT, SAGEM, and SIEMENS … employing hundreds of
Tunisian engineers and executives.

Availability of scientists and engineers

Rank Country Score

9 Tunisia 5.4
11 France 5.3
17 Belgium 5.1
35 Germany 4.6
37 Spain 4.6
39 Italy 4.5
51 Turkey 4.4
53 Egypt 4.3
64 Morocco 4.2
(1= non-existent or rare, 7= widely available)
Global Competitiveness Report 2009-2010, Davos World Economic Forum

They said about Tunisia:

“In Tunisia we have found engineers, technicians, managers and operators with sound basic training, able to quickly
assimilate the group’s specialized work and the technical processes specific to our activity.
The ratio of absenteeism is twice lower than the average in European countries.
Thanks to the sense of discipline and of responsibility as well as to the great adaptability (flexibility and multi-skill)
of our personnel, the group decided to expand its operations and its international development with Tunisia as a
basis for its activities.
The satisfaction of our customers in aeronautics and aerospace industries comforts us already in our choices.”
Gaby LOPEZ, Chief Executive, ZODIAC AEROSPACE Tunisia

A policy fostering innovation and R&D

During the last decade, governments have actively encouraged R&D activity. The national system of scientific research has
evolved at a rapid pace.
In 2008, Tunisia had 19,623 researchers, 146 laboratories and 640 research units.
In 2009, the National Agency for Promotion of Research and Innovation was created.

Share of R&D expenditure in GDP

In %

2001 0.53
2006 1.07
2011 1.25
They said about Tunisia:
“Many people are not aware of the technology
2014 1.50
produced in Tunisia … Tunisians have great
Ministry of Development and International Cooperation
adaptability. They are multi task and we train
them to be so. They have a sense of discipline
but they also have an innate tendency for
technology and they just love what we do.”
Thomas WENDT, Chief Executive, EUROCAST 11
 A dense and modern
infrastructure

Road and rail infrastructure

There are about 20,000 km of paved roads and 360 km of highways
nationwide.
The rail network is 2,167 km long and covers the entire territory.
In 2008, the Tunisian railroad ensured the transport of 10.5 million tons of
goods and of 39.2 million passengers.

1
Tunisia is the
st country from the south shore
of the Mediterranean and in
Africa according to the Global
Aviation and maritime infrastructure Competitiveness Report
There are nine international airports with a total capacity of 19 million passengers 2009-2010, prepared by the
World Economic Forum in Davos
per year: Tunis: Tabarka, Monastir, Enfidha, Jerba, Sfax, Gafsa, Tozeur and Gabes. and 35th of 134 countries, for
All regions of Tunisia are served. the quality of its infrastructure.

There are seven commercial ports (La Goulette, Rades, Bizerte, Sousse, Sfax,
Gabes, Zarzis) as well as an oil terminal (Skhira).
The construction of a new deepwater port at Enfidha is in progress.

Country Quality of air transport infrastructure Quality of port infrastructure

Rank Score Rank Score
Germany 4 6.6 5 6.4
France 9 6.3 10 5.9
Belgium 14 6.2 6 6.3
Tunisia 30 5.8 41 4.9
Spain 37 5.5 33 5.2
Egypt 44 5.3 57 4.3
Turkey 54 5.1 78 3.7
Morocco 70 4.7 62 4.2
Italy 85 4.1 83 3.7
(1= infrequent, limited and inefficient, 7= as frequent, extensive, and efficient as the world’s best)
Global Competitiveness Report 2009-2010, Davos World Economic Forum

Communications infrastructure
In Tunisia, the sector of communication technologies is one of the most dynamic sectors and has one of the highest growth rates
(15% in 2009).
It enjoys a significant investment of 6.3 billion dinars for the period 2007-2011 compared to only 430 million dinars during the
1992-1996 period.
There are all kinds of networks in Tunisia, so foreign companies can set up communication links to virtually everywhere in the world
at low cost.

High performance, multiplicity and the availability of systems and facilities for telecommunications transmission are based on:
■ Pair gain system ■ LS, ADSL
■ Pleysychrone, SDH systems ■ VSAT
■ WLL ■ MOBIRIF (Rural network based on MGS technology)
■ ISDN, ATM, Frame Relay, X25 ■ GFA, WIFI, GPS.

12
 Tunisia is the first country in the southern Mediterranean area and in Africa and 39th out of 133 countries according to
the index “Networked Readiness Index” published by the Global Information Technology Report 2009-2010.

The Networked Readiness Index “NRI” 2009-2010

Rank Country Score

14 Germany 5.16
18 France 4.99
22 Belgium 4.86
34 Spain 4.37
39 Tunisia 4.22
48 Italy 3.97
69 Turkey 3.68
70 Egypt 3.67
88 Morocco 3.43
The Global Information Technology Report, 2009-2010, Davos World Economic Forum

Energy infrastructure
Tunisia has a production base that is diversified and divided into 23 production units (gas turbines, steam turbines, combined cycle,
hydro, and wind) with an installed capacity of about 3,314 MW.
In order to protect the environment by promoting the production of green kilowatt-hour, Tunisia has integrated wind technology in its
production choices. A first power plant of 55 MW is already operational and a further extension of the same power is being finalized.
A second power plant of 20 MW is under construction.
Bizerte

Technological infrastructure Ariana

Jendouba Beja Borj Cedria
Tunisia currently has: Sidi Thabet
El Kef
■ eight operational technology centers and two centers under construction, Zaghouan
■ eleven cyberparks spread over several areas covering various fields of expertise. Siliana Sousse
Monastir
The mid-term objective is that each governorate is granted a science park. Kairouan
Kasserine
Sfax
Industrial zones and economic activity parks Gafsa
Tunisia has hundreds of industrial zones throughout the country 83 of which were created
by the Industrial Land Agency covering a total area of 2,500 hectares. Kebili
Mednine
The 11th economic development plan (2007-2011) provides for the achievement of
31 industrial zones covering 650 ha to reach a total area of 4,500 ha in 2011. Tataouine

There are also two high-level operational economic activity parks: Bizerte and
Zarzis-Jerba. The Bizerte park is located at the city’s port (just 60 km from Tunis airport)
and the Zarzis park is located just half an hour from Jerba airport. Operational technology centers
Technology centers under
construction
Cyberparks

They said about Tunisia:

“Thanks to the industrial infrastructure in Tunisia, we were able to establish within 5 years a competitive foundry
employing now hundreds of people. When started we made an initial investment of 7 million Euros, and today, we
are banking on a turnover of 15 million Euros.”
Matthew PASQUALOTTO, CEO of SAFAS

13
 A favorable
business environment

A stable country
Tunisia is blessed with sound economic and social stability, as

1
reflected in a number of indicators.
Tunisia is the
st country on the
southern shore of the
Mediterranean and in
Africa, according to the
Global Competitiveness
Report 2009-2010
issued by the Davos
World Economic
Human Development Index 0.769
Forum and is 7th out
Purchasing Power Parity $ 7,900 of 133 countries in
Poverty rate 3.8% terms of regulations
encouraging FDIs.
Women’s activity rate 25.4%

Free investment
Investment is free for Tunisian citizens and foreigners in most sectors.
In general, a foreign investor can hold up to 100% of capital in a given initiative without having to obtain authorization.

Major investment incentives

The investment incentives law offers many advantages

Tax incentives Total exemption from income tax:

■ for ten years for export revenues and agricultural projects,
■ and for five or ten years, for projects located in regional development zones, according
to the priority of the zone.
Grants Investment bonuses equal to: 8, 15, or 25% of project costs and capped between 0.320 to
1 million Tunisian dinars, according to the priority of the zone, in areas of regional
development and 7% for agricultural projects.

State subsidy of employer’s contributions ■ Partial from 100% to 20% for 5 years for the jobs created in the first group of regional
development.
■ Total for 5 years for the jobs created in the second group of Regional Development.
■ Total for 5 years and then partial (80% to 20%) for 5 additional years for jobs created
in priority regional development zones.

State subsidy of infrastructure spending For projects in areas of regional development 25, 50 or 75% of the total cost of the
infrastructure according to the priority of the zone.

Additional incentives can be awarded for investments that are of particular interest for the economy or for areas along the border.

14
Simplified procedures for creating a business
The procedures for setting up a business are simple and can be done at the one stop shop of the Agency for the Promotion of Industry
“API”(Tunis, Sfax, Sousse, Nabeul, Gafsa, Gabes and Beja) which gather all the involved administrative authorities and also online via the
website www.webentcreation.tunisieindustrie.nat.tn (projects’ declaration and companies’legal incorporation).

Employers-employees relationships: agreement and consensus

The relationship between management and employees in Tunisia is not confrontational and is governed through consensus under a
regulatory framework. Salaries are reviewed every three years as part of negotiations between the social partners.

Cooperation in labor–employer

Rank Country Score

24 Germany 5.0
29 Tunisia 5.0
46 Egypt 4.6
73 Belgium 4.3
86 Spain 4.2
107 Morocco 3.9
115 Turkey 3.8
123 Italy 3.5
126 France 3.5
(1= generally confrontational, 7= generally cooperative)
Global Competitiveness Report 2009-2010, Davos World Economic Forum

Competitive production costs

The salaries of engineers, technicians and workers are very competitive. Their evolution remains moderate thanks to a relatively stable
exchange rate and to the control of the inflation rate.
The Guaranteed Minimum Professional Wage “SMIG” is about 120 Euros.
In addition to extremely attractive labor costs, the other costs of production factors are competitive.

Average sales price index exclusive of tax on gas and electricity for
industrial usage
Tunisia = base 100

Country Electricity cost Natural gas cost

500 kw - 2,000 MWh/year 239 - 2,390 toe/year
Tunisia 100 100
France 113 317
Portugal 152 319
Greece 166 -
Germany 171 353
Belgium 180 284
Spain 192 284
Italy - 331
EUROSTAT, 1st term 2009

They said about Tunisia:

“Tunisia affords one of the best environments for doing business. If our companies have chosen to invest here, it is
because this country is a natural and reliable partner. The country invested heavily in its international credibility and
now, thanks to its requirements in terms of performance, it opens a strategic path for our SMEs.”
Roberto ZUCCATO, President of CONFINDUSTRIA VICENZA

15
 An attractive site
for investment

A boom in foreign investments

Tunisia continues to be an attractive option for foreign investment.
In 2009, foreign investment flows represented 13.7% of Tunisian productive

1
investment, 4% of the GDP, 37% of foreign capital inflows and 26% of new
jobs each year are made possible through FDI.
Tunisia is the
st country from the south
shore of the Mediterranean
which attracts more
companies as reported
by the survey “National
Industrial Strategy by
2016”, prepared by
FDI flows as a percentage of gross fixed capital formation (GFCF) in 2008 Ernst&Young in 2008.
In %

Italy 3.5

Germany 3.6

Morocco 9.1

Turkey 12.3

Spain 13.9

France 18.8

Tunisia 27.0

Egypt 29.2
World Investment Report, UNCTAD, 2009

The results achieved during the year 2009 in the mobilization of foreign investment
are satisfactory. The amount of foreign investment reached 2,357 million dinars
compared to 1,088.2 million dinars in 2005.The flow of FDI in the manufacturing
sector is predominant. It had more than doubled over the last five years, from
375 million dinars in 2005 to 772 million dinars in 2009.

By the end of 2009, 3,069 foreign or mixed firms were operational in Tunisia employing 314,299 people compared to respectively 455 firms
and 59,932 employees in 1987.

Breakdown of FDI in 2009

In %

Manufacturing industries
33.9 Tourism & estate
Agriculture
54.1
Services & others
3.8 Energy
7.5 0.7

FIPA-Tunisia, 2010

16
 Success stories
AEROLIA, ACTIA, AKZO NOBEL, AIR LIQUIDE, ALCATEL, ALUTHEA, ANJOU ÉLECTRONIQUE, ASTEEL, AUTOLIV, AVENTIS
SANOFI, BANCO DE SANTANDER, BAXTER, BENETTON, BG, BNP, BOSCH, CARREFOUR, CASCO, COFIDUR, COS,
CROWN CORK, DANONE, DEFONTAINE, DRÄXLMAIER, ELECTROLUX, EUROCAST, ESSO, FAURECIA, FRAM, GÉANT,
GENERAL ELECTRIC, GM, GROUPE BPCE, GRUNER, HAIER, HEINRICH KOPP, HENKEL, HUTCHINSON, ISUZU, ITOCHU
CORPORATION, JAL GROUP, JOHNSON CONTROLS, KASCHKE, KBE ELEKTROTECHNIK, KROMBERG & SCHUBERT,
LACROIX ELECTRONIQUE, LATÉCOÈRE, LEAR CORPORATION, LG, LEONI, LUCENT TECHNOLOGIES, MARZOTTO,
MECAHERS, MENTOR, MICROSOFT, MIROGLIO, NESTLÉ, NIGGELER, ORANGE, ORASCOM, PFIZER, PHILIPS, PHOENIX,
PIRELLI, RIEKER, SAFAS, SAFRAN, SCANIA, SEWON, SIEMENS, SIOEN, SOCIÉTÉ GÉNÉRALE, SOMFY,
ST MICROELECTRONICS, STREAM, SUMITOMO, SYLVANIA,TÉLÉPERFORMANCE, THOMSON MULTIMEDIA, TOTAL,
TOYOTA TSUSHO, UNILEVER, VALEO, VAN DE VELDE, VAN LAACK, VEGE MOTOR, VOLVO, YAMAICHI ELECTRONICS,
YAZAKI, YURA CORPORATION, ZODIAC, 3 SUISSES …

Mechanical, electrical and electronics industry: an expanding sector

Foreign direct investment is increasingly oriented towards technology intensive activities. Indeed, FDIs in mechanical, electrical and
electronics industry experienced a particular dynamics, which made it namely possible for this sector to perform better than the textile
sector in the last three years.

Progress of the mechanical & electrical and textile activities’ share in the manufacturing industries
In %

Year Mechanics, electricity and electronics Textile and clothing

2000 5.2 13.6
2007 30.6 18.6
2008 15.9 7.9
2009 27.1 12.8
FIPA-Tunisia, 2010

European Union: primary investor

France, Italy, United Kingdom, Germany, and Belgium are the main investors in Tunisia.

Breakdown of companies with foreign participation by country of origin in 2009

In %

4.3 4.5
7.7 EU countries

8.6 Arab countries

74.9 North American countries
Asian countries
Other countries

FIPA-Tunisia, 2010

They said about Tunisia:

“I started with industrial activities, but within less than two years, we
switched to aeronautical activities. Today we intend to manufacture
products for major aircraft equipment manufacturers in Europe and
elsewhere. In the coming years, we will increase our activity by over
50%.”
René MERLE, Chief Executive, LACROIX ELECTRONIQUE 17
 A country
where you can enjoy life

Most pleasant living conditions

In Tunisia, the conditions of life are most enjoyable and in some respects

1
similar to those of Southern Europe.
Tunisia is the
st Arab country and in the
southern shore of the
Mediterranean where it
is most “pleasant to live”
according to the 2010 ranking
released by “International
Living”, an observer of quality
■ Residential areas with modern luxury housing at reasonable cost. of life in the world.
■ Many shopping malls and hypermarkets (CARREFOUR, CARREFOUR MARKET, GÉANT,
BRICORAMA).
■ Foreign schools (French, American).
■ High level medical benefits with a network of modern and specialized clinics.
■ A variety of sporting activities with a highly developed sports infrastructure.
■ Multiple amusement and leisure parks, located in both tourist areas and outside these
areas.
■ Numerous international festivals: the Carthage film festival, the Jazz Festival in Tabarka,
the symphonic music of El Jem Coliseum, the festivals of Carthage and Hammamet, the
Sahara Festival in Douz …
Tunisia is a country that perfectly combines tradition and modernity.
The personality of the Tunisian is imbued with tolerance, hospitality, an unwavering joie de
vivre and a strong determination to succeed.

A long tradition of tourism

True international metropolis, seven million tourists a year choose Tunisia as the destination
for their holidays, their professional meetings, or to participate in international events as
well as numerous symposiums and conferences.

Attitude of the population towards foreign visitors

Rank Country Score

19 Belgium 6.7
20 Tunisia 6.7
42 Turkey 6.6
53 Spain 6.5
54 Egypt 6.5
67 Germany 6.5
They said about Tunisia:
“It is a country where life is good and where
modernity is available to everyone. So there is no
problem for a European to spend his life in Tunisia.”
Gaby LOPEZ, Chief Executive, ZODIAC AEROSPACE Tunisia

71 France 6.4
78 Italy 6.3
90 Morocco 6.3
(1= unfriendly population, 7= welcoming population)
The Travel and Tourism Competitiveness Report 2009, Davos World Economic Forum
“In this small country of the Mediterranean we find
all the conveniences of modern life in an atmosphere
imbued with the particularly warm hospitality of the
people of Tunisia.”
Thomas WENDT, Chief Executive, EUROCAST

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 Tunisia is the first tourism destination in the south Mediterranean, and 44th in the world according to “Travel and
Tourism Competitiveness 2009” Report, prepared by the Davos World Economic Forum.

A cost of living of the most affordable

The Tunisian capital and its residential suburbs provide a rare
quality of life in Africa. Yet, contrary to appearances, life is
cheaper there than elsewhere. In fact, Tunisia is ranked among
the cheapest cities in the world. It ranks 134th out of 143 in the
ranking of most expensive cities by Mercer Human Resource in
2009.

A protected environment
In Tunisia, the protection of the environment is a full-fledged policy.
In fact, Tunisia has been since the early 90s, one of the first Arab and African countries to develop coherent programs of environmental
protection.
Today, it spends more than 1.2% of its GDP on investment in environmental protection and sustainable development.

Tunisia is committed to work out a balance between the requirements of economic growth and competitiveness of its companies and the
obligation to protect the environment and conservation natural resources. This has resulted in a necessary mastery of involved technology
and the strengthening of Tunisian competencies in leading edge sectors which are the most environmentally friendly.

Its commitment to natural resource protection and to the preservation of citizens’ quality of life has been widely recognized. Recent studies
have shown that the costs of environmental degradation do not exceed 2.1% of GDP, which is still very close to the values observed in
developed countries.

Quality of natural environment

Rank Country Score

18 Germany 5.6
28 Tunisia 5.2
32 France 5.2
69 Spain 4.5
84 Belgium 4.3
87 Italy 4.2
101 Morocco 3.9
116 Turkey 3.6
131 Egypt 2.6
(1= with highest pollution level in the world, 7= with lowest pollution level in the world)
The Travel and Tourism Competitiveness Report 2009, Davos World Economic Forum

Besides, Tunisia has joined more than thirty international agreements related to environmental issues such as marine environmental
protection, reduction of the hole in the ozone layer, the fight against desertification, the conservation of outstanding natural and historic
heritage...

They said about Tunisia:

“Tunisia has the necessary assets to participate in the industrial use of renewable energy.
First of all because it has sun and space; two necessary natural conditions, and second,
because it is close to Europe, it is possible to export this green energy to Europe. It is this
activity that we will focus on during the coming 20 to 40 years.”
René BUCHLER, Chief Executive Officer, SIEMENS Tunisia

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 FIPA – Tunisia

The Foreign Investment Promotion Agency “FIPA-Tunisia” is a national

structure created in 1995 under the authority of the Ministry of Development
and International Cooperation. It is mandated to provide the support required
by foreign investors and to promote foreign investment in Tunisia.

FIPA-Tunisia and its offices abroad form a comprehensive network:

■ information on investment opportunities in Tunisia and the main reasons why Tunisia is such an attractive site for FDI. All relevant
information about the Tunisian economy, human resources, infrastructure and investment incentives are presented in a wide range of
documentation in a number of languages,
■ contacts in Tunis or abroad, thanks to preliminary exploratory work and targeted contacts that meet investors’ needs. Our approach
being to present the Tunisian offer the most satisfactory one for firms in search of internationalization,
■ advice on the conditions that will contribute to the success of initiatives, the best locations, various investment systems, financing
means,
■ accompanying the investor on exploratory visits to Tunisia and throughout the various implementation phases of the initiative.
FIPA staff draws up programs for meetings with Tunisian institutions and companies in the relevant sector or areas of investor interest,
■ support to improve the sustainability of a company, through personalized monitoring and ongoing assistance with ministerial
departments and structures and regional authorities.

FIPA-Tunisia has offices in:

Tunis London Paris

Rue Salaheddine El Ammami 63-66 Hatton Garden 8, rue de la Bienfaisance
Centre Urbain Nord London EC1N 8LE 75008 Paris
1004 Tunis Tel.: (44-207) 430 13 15 Tel.: (33-1) 45 22 68 57
Tel.: (216-71) 75 25 40 Fax: (44-207) 430 14 00 Fax: (33-1) 45 22 68 53
Fax: (216-71) 23 14 00 E-mail: london@fipa.co.uk E-mail: apie.tunisie@wanadoo.fr
E-mail: fipa.tunisia@mdci.gov.tn
www.investintunisia.tn

Brussels Madrid
31/33, rue Montoyer, Bte 4 Avenida Alfonso XIII, 68
1000 Bruxelles Madrid-28016, España
FIPA-Tunisia has
Tel.: (32-2) 512 93 27 Tel.: (34-91) 510 48 47
Fax: (32-2) 511 17 57 Fax: (34-91) 510 48 95 been certified ISO
E-mail: fipa1.tunisie@scarlet.be E-mail: fipa-madrid@telefonica.net 9001 since 2003

Cologne Milan
Hohenstaufenring 44-46 Via M. Gonzaga, 5
50674 Köln (Piazza Missori)
Tel.: (49-221) 240 33 46 • 240 33 47 20123 Milano
Fax: (49-221) 240 34 46 Tel.: (39-02) 80 92 97 • 80 92 98
E-mail: fipacologne@t-online.de Fax: (39-02) 80 93 53
E-mail: fipatunisiamilano@tin.it

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 2010
SERVICED 71 86 12 19

Ministry of Development and International Cooperation

Foreign Investment Promotion Agency "FIPA Tunisia"

Rue Slaheddine El Ammami

Centre Urbain Nord - 1004 Tunis
Tel.: (216-71) 752 540 - Fax: (216-71) 231 400
E-mail: fipa.tunisia@mdci.gov.tn
www.investintunisia.tn