Month: April 2017

It’s more vital than ever that Britain looks beyond Europe to forge commercial ties

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As part of my role, I travel the world seeking out investment opportunities for British businesses that will not only create high-quality jobs for our partners overseas, but also long-term growth investments for UK firms. North Africa is a part of the world with many such opportunities to uncover. I recently returned from a visit to Algeria, Tunisia, and Morocco at the head of a City business delegation. During our time in Algiers, Tunis and Casablanca, we were able to identify much potential for UK business, in a region with…

Hungary to teach Tunisia about border control

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Hungary and Tunisia signed a bilateral agreement Monday on Interior Ministry and anti-terrorism cooperation, under which Hungary will share its border control and border security experiences with Tunisia, according to a report on official government website kormany.hu. “A Tunisian delegation has already visited Hungary’s southern border, in addition to which a Tunisian anti-terrorist delegation has also visited Hungary, and a Hungarian anti-terrorist delegation has visited Tunisia,” said Hungary’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Péter Szijjártó. Szijjártó told reporters that in future the two countries would be tightening their border…

Tunisia: date exports from Tozeur reach record high

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Date exports from the Tozeur region reached a record of 16,160 tonnes between October 1, 2016 and April 24, 2017, for a total value of 89.725 million dinars (MD), according to data provided by the Regional Directorate of the Inter-professional Fruit Group. Nationally, 80 thousand tons have been exported so far, generating 420.225 MTD, against 72 thousand tons (the equivalent of 311 MTD), during the same period of the previous campaign. These exports posted an increase of 8 thousand tons and a marked improvement in revenues favored by rising prices…

Tunisia’s anti-corruption plan boosts tax revenues by 15 percent: Minister

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The tax revenues in the first quarter of 2017, edged up by 15%, compared with a decline during the same period in 2016, said Finance Minister Lamia Zribi. Speaking at a press meeting with national media representatives, the minister affirmed that “the increase recorded end of March is explained by the provision related to the exceptional participation of 7.5% in the enterprises’ profits for 2017 and the regular and exceptional provisions enacted under the Finance Law 2017 and aimed to improve the recovery rate.” During the first quarter of 2017,…

Arab Women in the Legislative Process

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Women continue to face challenges in accessing the higher echelons of political power, but also in playing a more substantive role in the policymaking process. n May 4, Algeria will hold its second legislative election since the introduction of women’s quota system in 2012. Many are set to see whether female legislators will be able to play a more pivotal role in the political realm. Over the past decade, the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region has witnessed a consistent, though slow, increase in the presence of women in…

Tunisian coastguard tackles high-speed smugglers

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Dimming the lights on their patrol boat, Tunisian coastguards stand in silence scanning the sea for speedboats on clandestine missions to and from Italy. Smuggling gangs are using high-performance vessels to ferry people, drugs and cigarettes across the Strait of Sicily, a distance of just 95 miles (150 kilometres). Commander Mohamed Naceur Saadani says their use of speedboats is a “new and dangerous” phenomenon. Standing on the bridge of a patrol boat capable of 40 knots (about 70 kilometres, 45 miles per hour), he monitors a bank of glowing radar…

Executives sample products from Tunisia

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A tasting session preceded the meeting of the Brazil-Tunisia Business Council this Wednesday in São Paulo. São Paulo – Olive oil, wines, canned tuna, preserve salads, dates and other sweet items. Assorted food products from Tunisia were presented by exporters from the Arab country to Brazilian executives as a means of enhancing bilateral trade. The tasting session preceded the meeting of the Brazil-Tunisia Business Council this Wednesday afternoon (26) at the Renaissance Hotel in São Paulo. “These are traditional items in Tunisia which are successful internationally and are exported to…

Tunisia votes to ease laws against drug offenders

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unisia’s parliament voted yesterday to ease the country’s law on drugs after it faced mounting calls from rights groups and civil society groups to reform the harsh law. The move could see offenders like youths caught smoking marijuana escape prison terms and comes following an announcement made by the National Security Council last month to limit the number of drug users sentenced to prison. Some 133 legislators out of the 144 parliamentarians present in the national assembly voted to amend the law, granting judges the power to use their own…

BCT increases key interest rate to 4.75% and rate of return on savings to 4%

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The Central Bank of Tunisia (BCT) has decided to increase its key interest rate by 50 basis points to 4.75% and to raise the minimum rate of return on savings by 50 points to 4%. According to a statement issued by the BCT on Wednesday, the decision aims to reduce the risk of inflationary pressures on the one hand and to encourage savings, which will help to strengthen liquidity. The Central Bank said it was monitoring developments in the economic situation to take appropriate measures in time. The BCT’s Executive…

Libyan authorities seize goods bound for smuggling to neighboring countries

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The fuel and gas crisis committee has announced confiscating all of the vehicles that had been prepared to smuggle fuel and foods outside Libya via Ras Ajdair border with Tunisia. The committee said Tuesday that Ras Ajdair security personnel seized all of the vehicles and foods as well as other goods that were en route to neighboring countries, adding that this crackdown is intended to constrain the ability of the smugglers and to maintain Libya’s resources and fortunes. The security apparatuses in Ras Ajdair and other border districts in Libya…