Month: February 2017

Tunisia becomes second largest organic exporter in Africa

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The CEPEX recently published a detailed sector note on the overall situation of exports of the agricultural sector and the agri-food industry for the year 2016. According to the note, Tunisia became the second largest African exporter of biological products and that 80% of these organic products are exported. These organic products are essentially dates, vegetables, olive oils, vines and others. Tunisia exports more than 60 organic products to 5 continents. The note specifies that these exports of organic products had reached more than 35 thousand tons at the end…

Tunisia ranked 123rd in Index of Economic Freedom 2017

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Tunisia has been ranked 123rd among the 180 countries listed in the Heritage Foundation Index of Economic Freedom 2017. With a score of 55.7 points out of 100 in 2017, Tunisia maintains its status of country “moderately not free” in the index. It came ninth in the Arab world behind UAE (76.9 points), Qatar (73.1), Bahrain (68.5), Jordan (66.7), Kuwait (65.1), Saudi Arabia (64.4), Oman (62.1) and Morocco (61.5). Based on a set of ten indicators grouped into four categories, Tunisia’s index of economic freedom is based on the rule…

Union Minister M.J. Akbar to visit Tunisia from Feb.26 to 28

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New Delhi, Feb 23 (IANS) To explore business opportunities for India, Minister of State for External Affairs M.J. Akbar will be on a three-day visit to Tunisia, an official said on Thursday. “During the visit, the Minister of State shall discuss a wide range of bilateral, regional and international issues of shared common interest including the strengthening of cooperation in the fertiliser sector. India has very cordial bilateral relations with Tunisia,” said a Ministry of External Affairs release. “The economic cooperation between the two countries is deepening with Indian investments…

North Africa, Europe’s Last Resort on Migration

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To address the Mediterranean migrant crisis, the EU is seeking closer partnerships with North African states. Since the controversial deal between Turkey and the European Union (EU) in March 2016 has largely succeeded in preventing refugees from reaching Europe through the eastern Mediterranean route, EU decisionmakers have turned their attention to the central Mediterranean. With election dates approaching for several EU states, and amid heightened fears about new waves of migrants entering Europe in the spring, politicians are trying to find quick solutions to prove their ability to manage the…

UN lauds Libya’s mediation efforts by neighbouring countries

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The United Nations has lauded the peaceful mediations initiated by Libya’s neighbouring countries in resolving crisis that culminated in the northern African country after the fall of Muammar Gaddafi in 2011. Speaking on Wednesday during a press conference in Tunis, the head of United Nations Support Mission in Libya, Martin Kobler, welcomed the move by Tunisia, Algeria and Egypt to ease tension among rival groups. Foreign ministers from the four countries signed on Monday, a declaration that will help to achieve the overall reconciliation process in Libya. Tunisia , Algeria…

Tunisia: Tunisair launches “Early Purchase” offer for expats

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National flag carrier “TUNISAIR” will launch from February 23, 2017 until March 31, 2017, an “Early Purchase” tariff offer for Tunisian nationals living abroad. Tunisair said in a press release on Wednesday that this special tariff offer will grant a 30% discount on the “Worker Tariffs”, the lowest-priced before taxes on the list of on the tariff grid, departing from the following main markets: France, Germany, Belgium, Italy, Austria, the Netherlands, Switzerland, Spain, Portugal and Morocco. The journey can take place from June 1 to August 31, 2017 (last departure)…

Tunisia parliament adopts anti-graft law

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 Tunisia’s parliament on Wednesday approved a law to fight widespread corruption that has plagued Tunisia economy since the 2011 revolution. One hundred and forty-five lawmakers out of 217 voted to pass the 36-article law, which criminalises any retribution against whistleblowers including any disciplinary measures against civil servants. “Strong legislation like this helps fight corruption,” said Civil Service Minister Abid Briki, who attended the session. The parliament’s deputy speaker Abelfattah Mourou said the law was “a gain from the revolution”.  Experts say petty graft has hampered Tunisia’s economy since anti-corruption protests…

Tunisia: State to provide 11,000 ha of arable lands to young farmers

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 In a circular signed by Samir Taieb and Mabrouk Korchid, respectively Tunisian minister of agriculture and State secretary in charge of public domains and land affairs, it was revealed that 11,000 ha of lands will be given to small farmers in Tunisia’s remote areas. Commenting on the initiative on the sidelines of the Social economy and Solidarity Days, last Feb.20, Taieb said the areas concerned “will be given to young graduates from agriculture schools and small farmers”. However, to benefit from the programme, applicants “must, for example, not already own…

Landmarks of Donald J. Trump foreign policy

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From the first days of the American presidential primaries the world followed Trump’s discourse with both fear and astonishment. This mixed feeling is mainly due to the harsh and unprecedented tone used by the candidate. In fact, Donald Trump attacked everybody: women, blacks, disabled persons, Muslims, Jewish, Mexican etc. Moreover, the man’s foreign policy was not clear and the whole world was suspicious about the outcome of Trump’s arrival to the White House. Apart from his good relations with Russia, he showed a very dark future of the world diplomacy.…

Tunisia torture cases falling but abuses persist: NGO

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 Cases of torture in Tunisia are falling but abuses persist in prisons and detention centres, a rights group said on Wednesday. The Tunisian Organisation Against Torture (OCTT) reported 153 torture cases in the North African country from January to November. There were 250 cases in the previous year. In a report, it accused authorities of abuses including arbitrary arrest, ill-treatment and threats or attempts at rape.  The police were responsible for more than 60% of the abuses, followed by prison wardens and the National Guard, it said. “Until now, there…