International Conference FITA 2024: Tunisia to Host 7th Edition
A press conference was held on Tuesday, May 28, at the Tunisia-Africa Business Council (TABC) headquarters to discuss the 7th edition of the international conference Financing Investment and Trade in Africa (FITA) 2024, scheduled to take place on June 11-12, 2024, in Tunis.
Global Participation and Honored Guests
Anis Jaziri, President of TABC, highlighted the key aspects of FITA, announcing that over 65 countries will participate in the forum, with the majority being African nations, as well as representatives from Asia, America, and Europe. The honored guests of this edition include Poland, represented by the Vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs, and the Democratic Republic of Congo, represented by the Governor of Kinshasa. First-time participants include Nigeria, South Africa, Seychelles, Namibia, and Uganda. The French Development Agency (AFD) will present the Qawafel project.
Technical Panels and Thematic Focus
Nadia Yaiche, Secretary-General of TABC, revealed that the conference will feature numerous technical panels focusing on the main theme: strengthening local transformation and technology transfer for sustainable and inclusive growth in Africa. Discussion topics will include:
- The changing geopolitical and economic climate
- Wealth creation in Africa through industrialization
- Financing, a challenge for industrial companies and services
- Developing skills
- The role of investment promotion agencies
- Tourism as a growth driver in Africa
- The importance of tourism in Tunisia
Regional Cooperation and International Relations
Yaiche emphasized the importance of regional cooperation, citing the example of Morocco, where 80% of West African central bank governors are graduates of Moroccan universities. She stressed that Tunisia needs to increase its international presence and economic influence.
Yaiche also highlighted the Qawafel project, which will be discussed in the context of internationalizing Tunisian SMEs, and emphasized the significance of Africa's relations with China, which is expanding its presence on the continent. She further emphasized the importance of fostering relationships between African countries and India.
South-South Cooperation
Anis Jaziri underscored the importance of cooperation between Tunisia and other African countries, stating, "There is no better cooperation than South-South cooperation, as the North has only exploited the South." He cited the example of cocoa exploitation in African countries, which is transformed into "Swiss chocolate" by foreign companies.