INVEST IN TUNISIA : General Guide

General Guide
Why Tunisia: Geostrategic location, favorable destination, open to the world...

Situated at the confluence of the eastern and western basins of the Mediterranean and just 140 kilometers from Europe, Tunisia enjoys a privileged geographical position that makes it a regional hub for both investment and trade and production.

Less than three hours by flight from European metropolises and major cities in the Middle East, Tunisia lies at the heart of the Euro-Mediterranean logistics chain.

Tunisia is also the preferred destination for those looking to access a market of 500 million consumers.

The Tunisian economy, among the most competitive economies in Africa and the Arab world, offers businesses a better-quality environment than what they could find in the main competing countries.

Particularly favorable to business competitiveness are the level of education of the active population, the rigor of macroeconomic management, and the quality of public institutions.

Global Competitiveness:

Tunisia ranks first in North Africa in terms of:

• Attractiveness of talents | "Global Talent Competitiveness Index 2018, INSEAD"
• Entrepreneurial ecosystem | "Global Entrepreneurship Index 2018, GEDI"
• Innovation | "Bloomberg Innovation Index 2018, Bloomberg"
• Competitiveness based on industrial performance | "Competitive Industrial Performance Index 2018, UNIDO"
• ICT development | "Measuring the Information Society Report, 2017"
• Transition to e-commerce | "B2C E-commerce Index 2018, UNCTAD"

Sectoral Competitiveness:

Tunisia is:

• The second-largest date exporter in the world
• The world's largest exporter of olive oil
• The second-largest exporter of organic products in Africa
• The third-largest African producer of automotive components

Favorable destination:

The culture of foreign investment in Tunisia is not new. In fact, as far back as the early 1970s, foreign companies began to realize the resources of Tunisia and the comparative advantages it offers.

Since then, many have settled in Tunisia, making it a preferred offshore destination.

Today, 3,708 foreign companies are present in Tunisia, providing over 416,489 jobs. Taking advantage of a business environment similar to that of many countries in southern Europe, they benefit from more attractive advantages at various levels.

An opening to the European Union market:

After the association and free trade agreement with the European Union were signed in 1995, Tunisia gained access in November 2012 to the status of an advanced partner. This status grants it commercial benefits, strengthens its economic agreements with the EU, and gives priority to its exports in European markets.

Currently, negotiations leading to the signing of a Comprehensive and Enhanced Free Trade Agreement (ALECA) are ongoing to ensure the progressive integration of Tunisia into the EU internal market and the establishment of a Common Economic Space.

A regional hub:

Tunisia is a privileged site for investors wishing to serve neighboring markets such as Libya and Algeria. It also serves as a regional platform to cover European countries on one side and African and Gulf Arab countries on the other, benefiting from strong growth and high purchasing power.

Preferential access to numerous markets:

Tunisia benefits from tariff reductions allowed under the Generalized System of Preferences (GSP), which promotes the integration of countries into the multilateral trading system and contributes to development through trade.