Turkey and Tunisia Strengthen Economic Ties
The Turkish Minister of Commerce, Ömer Bolat, visited Tunisia to attend the 2nd Türkiye-Tunisia Economic and Investment Forum. During his visit, Bolat highlighted that Turkish investments in Tunisia, currently around $700 million, are expected to increase in the near future.
Strategic Location and Economic Potential
Bolat emphasized Tunisia's strategic location, close to African and European markets, making it an attractive destination for Turkish businesses looking to expand their activities. He also stated that Turkey is actively working to increase trade volume with Tunisia, aiming to reach $3 billion, up from the current $1.6 billion.
Foreign Investments and Job Creation
According to a statement by the Tunisian Confederation of Industry, Trade, and Handicrafts (UTICA), Khaled Sellami, President of the Tunisian section of the Foreign Economic Relations Board (DEIK), highlighted that this meeting reflects a common will to qualitatively transform relations between the two countries. He presented the evolution of foreign direct investments in Tunisia, where over 3,750 foreign companies have invested around 34 billion Tunisian dinars, creating 510,000 direct jobs. Among them, 38 Turkish companies have invested around 620 million dinars and created 1,850 jobs.
Bilateral Cooperation and Sectoral Opportunities
Kadir Mete Geçer, President of the Turkish section of the Foreign Economic Relations Board (DEIK), emphasized that this meeting benefits from the support of both governments to strengthen bilateral cooperation. He praised Tunisia's strategic location in Africa and as a gateway to Europe, as well as the many promising sectors in which Tunisia excels, including information and communication technologies, steel, textiles, tourism, and healthcare.
Ministerial Meeting and Sectoral Focus
The Turkish Minister of Commerce, Ömer Bolat, held a meeting with Tunisian ministers, including Fatma Thabet Chiboub, Minister of Energy, Industry, and Mines, and Kalthoum Ben Rejeb, Minister of Commerce and Export Development. Ben Rejeb called for strengthening Turkish investments in Tunisia and promoting partnerships between Tunisian and Turkish companies, particularly in key sectors such as steel, textiles, clothing, leather processing, and food industries, as well as wood panel and tourism boat manufacturing.
Phosphate Sector Opportunities
The Turkish Minister of Commerce and the Tunisian Minister of Energy also explored opportunities for cooperation in the phosphate sector, particularly between the Tunisian Chemical Group and its Turkish counterpart, as well as joint investment opportunities in phosphate-related projects. Fatma Thabet Chiboub highlighted the competitive advantages offered by Tunisia through its trade agreements with various partners. She also outlined the main orientations of the national industry and innovation strategy by 2035, aiming to stimulate investments in promising industrial sectors, energy, and mines, and positioning Tunisia as an attractive destination for regional and global investments. Ömer Bolat expressed the interest of several Turkish companies, including those in the automotive components, pharmaceuticals, shipbuilding, textiles, clothing, and renewable energy sectors, in investing in Tunisia. He emphasized the Turkish government's efforts to encourage such investments.