Tunisia to begin trade with COMESA member States by late 2019

Tunisia will begin its trade with the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) member States by late 2019, Trade Minister Omar Behi said Wednesday at a high-level workshop on the practicalities for Tunisia’s adherence to the COMESA. He noted that a list of products to be exported towards the COMESA is under preparation by a committee gathering the private sector and the different representatives of the concerned Tunisian ministries. This list that includes a variety of agricultural, processed and industrial products will be sent to the COMESA in…

Tunisia takes part in WorldFood Moscow

Tunisia is participating in WorldFood Moscow, Russia’s leading food and drink exhibition held on September 24-27. Ten Tunisian companies display their products ed in this fair, with dates, olive oil, pasta, confectionery products, sugar, fresh and frozen fruits and vegetables and canned tuna and sardines. The Tunisian enterprises seek to find potential distributors in Russia, further explore opportunities on offer and put the spotlight on the export potential in the agri-food sector. Over 1,760 Russian and foreign exhibitors are participating and some 50,000 professional visitors from Russia and 98 other…

SIAMAP 2019 opens

The 14th edition of the International Exhibition of Agriculture, Agricultural Machinery and Fisheries (SIAMAP 2019) was opened Tuesday at the Kram Exhibition Centre (northern suburb of Tunis) by Premier Youssef Chahed. Some 550 exhibitors are taking part in this edition of SIAMAP with the presence of foreign delegations made up of a number of businessmen from Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Italy and France in order to establish partnerships for investment and trade in the field of agriculture. Scientific workshops (30 meetings) with the aim of developing the agricultural sector are also…

Huawei launches Northern Africa Innovation Day in Tunisia

 Huawei launched a forum of Northern Africa Innovation Day co-organised with the government on Monday in Tunis with attendance of over 300 Arab and African officials and specialists. Vice President of Huawei Technologies Co. Ltd, Xue Man said the building of an effective technology system in Tunisia, the Arab region and Africa by working to strengthen the infrastructure, placing emphasis on China’s Huawei’s readiness to “provide all necessary assistance to achieve this goal.” The forum, to which took part a large number of Tunisian, Arab and African officials and many…

Thomas Cook collapses, investors pull plug on survival package

Thomas Cook, one of the most well-known brands in the history of the travel industry, has collapsed after a financial rescue failed to materialize, Phocus wire reports. The U.K.- and Germany-listed public company needed a £200 million bailout to secure survival following a previous investment of £900 million in July this year was deemed too small to put it back on firmer ground. It applied for “compulsory liquidation” with immediate effect in the early hours of September 23, putting the company in the hands of external officials to wind down…

More than 35 African countries attend SIAMAP 2019, new agreements to be inked

The Tunisian Union of Agriculture and Fisheries (UTAP) is organizing the 14th International Exhibition of Agriculture, Agricultural Machinery and Equipment (SIAMAP 2019) from September 24 to 29 at the Ek Kram Exhibition Centre in Tunis. More than 35 African countries and some 250,000 visitors are attending the show. In addition to the exhibitors’ pavilions, SIAMAP will organize scientific seminars on women farmers and their role in economic integration, renewable agriculture and research and technology tools. In addition, young people will participate in competitions to encourage them to invent new applications…

Export volume down 4% in 8 months of 2019

The volume of exports (constant prices) fell by 4% in the first eight months of 2019, compared to an increase of 4.6% in the same period in 2018, the National Statistics Institute (NSI) reports. The decline in export volumes in the first eight months of 2019 affected several sectors, including agriculture and agri-food (18.8%), textiles, clothing and leather (4.2%) and mechanical and electrical industries (2.1%), the same source revealed. In contrast, the volume of exports in the energy sector increased by 1.4% and that of other manufacturing industries by 4.4%.…

Thomas Cook predicts travel trends for 2020: bookings to Tunisia up more than double year-on-year

Family sales to Tunisia are up 50% for this winter In recent years, holidays to North Africa have crept up the holiday hotlist and this summer, family bookings to Tunisia were up more than double year-on-year. The non-Euro destination offers good value for money, family-friendly expeditions and soft white sands, plus a year-round Mediterranean climate, says a report published by Thomas Cook Group. Family sales to Tunisia are up 50% for this winter versus the same time last year and looking ahead to next summer, Tunisia shows no sign of…

Net foreign reserves reach 17,769 MD, 100 days of import as of September 9 (BCT)

Net foreign exchange reserves reached, Monday, September 9, 2019, for the first time in over two years, nearly 17,769 million dinars (MD), i.e. the equivalent of 100 days of import, according to data published by Central Bank of Tunisia (BCT).  Last year during the same period, foreign currency reserves were just under 11,009 MD, the equivalent of 70 days of imports. Tunisia’s foreign exchange reached 3 digits on Monday, exceeding the “recommended minimum security threshold” set at 90 days of import. Cumulative tourism receipts reached 3,933.5 MD according to the…

Mashrou3i project initiative for olive oil platform in Beja closes in Ben Ismail family reserve

The Mashrou3i project initiative to set up an olive oil platform in Beja ended on Saturday, September 7 in Toukaber in the Ben Ismail family reserve, bringing together nearly 30 actors from the olive oil sector (farmers, oil mill operators, SMSAs, bank and support structure representatives) to present the results of the collaboration initiated last February. This action is part of the activities of the Mashrou3i Programme to support farmers in the region, highlighting the need to bring together the stakeholders concerned to promote the value chain for olive oil.…