VZCZCXYZ0002
PP RUEHWEB

DE RUEHTU #0086/01 0441149
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 131149Z FEB 09
FM AMEMBASSY TUNIS
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 5974
INFO RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
RUCPDOC/USDOC WASHDC PRIORITY
RUCNMGH/MAGHREB COLLECTIVE

UNCLAS TUNIS 000086 
 
SENSITVE 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR EEB/CBA (WINSTEAD AND GILMAN, AND 
NEA/MAG (PATTERSON AND HAYES) 
STATE PASS USTR (BURKHEAD) AND USAID (MCCLOUD) 
USDOC FOR ITA/MAC/ONE (MASON), ADVOCACY CTR (TABINE), AND CLDP 
(TEJTEL AND MCMANUS) 
CASABLANCA FOR FCS (ORTIZ) 
CAIRO FOR FINANCIAL ATTACHE (SEVERENS) 
LONDON AND PARIS FOR NEA WATCHER 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: ECON EFIN ETRD TS
SUBJECT: TUNISIA: ECONOMIC HIGHLIGHTS 
 
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Summary 
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¶1. (U) This cable contains highlights of recent economic 
developments in Tunisia on the following topics: 
 
¶A. FDI in Tunisia Up 51.1 Percent in 2008 
¶B. Industry Exports Down 
¶C. GOT To Boost Maritime and Air Transport 
¶D. Tunisia and Jordan Sign 16 Cooperation Agreements 
¶E. Two Tunisian Companies Sentenced for Counterfeiting 
 
-------------------------------------- 
FDI in Tunisia Up 51.1 Percent in 2008 
-------------------------------------- 
 
¶2. (U)  Foreign investments totaled about TND 3.3 billion ($2.7 
billion) in 2008 according to the Tunisian Foreign Investment 
Promotion Agency (FIPA).  This figure represents an increase of 51.1 
percent over 2007 levels of TND 2.1 billion ($1.6 billion).  Foreign 
investment in the energy sector reached TND 1.629 billion ($1.33 
billion), with an increase of 19.9 percent from the previous year's 
TND 1.359 billion ($1.07 billion).  Service sector investments came 
to TND 646.7 million ($530.29 million), up from TND 146.4 million 
($115.66 million) in 2007.  New foreign investments in agriculture 
reached TND 17.7 million ($14.51 million) in 2008, up from TND 7.7 
million ($6.08 million) the previous year. 
 
--------------------- 
Industry Exports Down 
--------------------- 
 
¶3. (U)  On February 4, Minister of Industry Afif Chelbi acknowledged 
that Tunisian industrial exports are beginning to be affected by the 
international economic crisis.  Speaking before an elite group of 
Tunisian graduates of the top universities in France, he said that 
January figures show that exports are down for the third consecutive 
month.  He added that January's exports suffered an 8 percent 
decrease compared with the same month in 2008. 
 
¶4. (U)  Meanwhile, the state budget forecast a growth rate of only 8 
percent in Tunisia's global exports, down from the 20.7 percent 
recorded in 2008. 
 
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GOT To Boost Maritime and Air Transport 
--------------------------------------- 
 
¶5. (U)  On January 28 President Ben Ali chaired a cabinet meeting 
that announced a number of decisions aimed at developing Tunisia's 
maritime and air transport sectors: 
 
-- Liberalization of air links with Arab, European and American 
countries. 
 
-- Upgrading of ports infrastructure. 
 
-- The opening of all domestic airports to all Tunisian air carrier 
companies, whether public or private. 
 
-- Development and implementation of training programs for pilots, 
aircraft technicians and maritime professionals.   For this purpose, 
the Borj El Amri aviation school will be adapted to host pilot 
training.  Starting in October 2009, the naval academy will host a 
merchant marine training institute. 
 
-- A five-year tax exemption on profits for the majority state-owned 
Tunisair, which is in the midst of a fleet renewal program. 
 
-- The targeting of an increase in the national sea fleet's share of 
transportation of goods from its current 9 percent to 20 percent by 
¶2016. 
 
-- A five-year tax exemption on profits for private shipping 
companies, in addition to a 50 percent decrease in port taxes. 
 
--------------------------------------------- ----- 
Tunisia and Jordan Sign 16 Cooperation Agreements 
--------------------------------------------- ----- 
¶6. (U)  Jordanian and Tunisian officials signed 16 cooperation 
agreements and memoranda of understating (MOUs) on February 6, 
following two days of meetings of the 7th Joint Jordanian Tunisian 
Higher Committee.  Agreements included cooperation in the fields of 
industry, reciprocal recognition in academic qualifications and 
maritime certificates as well as certification of conformity for 
products. 
 
¶7. (U)  The MOUs were in the fields of scientific and technical 
cooperation related to agriculture, in addition to cooperation 
programs in higher education and scientific research. 
Competitiveness, customs and labor agreements were also signed, in 
addition to an MOU between Jordan TV and its Tunisian counterpart, 
as well as a partnership agreement between the Jordanian Judicial 
Institute and Tunisian Higher Judiciary Institute.  Prime Minister 
Mohammad Ghanouchi and his Jordanian counterpart, Nader Dahabi, 
co-chaired the meetings. 
 
¶8. (U)  Note:  Tunisia and Jordan are founding members of the Agadir 
Free Trade Agreement, signed on May 8, 2001.  The level of trade 
exchange between the two countries increased from TND 28 million (US 
$22.96 million) in 2007 to TND 46 million (US $37.72 million) in 
¶2008. 
 
--------------------------------------------- ------ 
Two Tunisian Companies Sentenced for Counterfeiting 
--------------------------------------------- ------ 
 
¶9. (U)  The Tunis Court of First Instance sentenced two Tunisian 
companies, SOFICO and TUMAR, for marketing counterfeited products of 
the French company SEB's trademark "Moulinex."  According to the 
online business publication Webmanagercenter, the court levied the 
following damages:  SOFICO must pay a fine of TND 1,000 (US $820) 
and TND 1,086 dinars (US $890.52) in damages, as well as TND 100 (US 
$82) per day until the fines have been paid.  TUMAR was ordered to 
pay a fine of TND 3,000 (US $2,460), TND 742.500 (US $608.85) in 
legal fees, and TND 50 (US $41) per day, until the fines have been 
paid. 
 
GODEC