APIP Agricultural Policy Implementation Project

5. TUNISIAN GOVERNMENT AGENCIES AND POLICIES
This section describes the principal GC" agencies with responsibilities
related to cut flower exports. Specific policies and regulations which affect
the cut flower sector are also addressed.
5.1 CEPEX - Centre de Promotion des Exportations
The Centre de Promotion des Exportations (CEPEX), a public institution
attached to the Ministry of Economy and Finance with a commercial and industrial
character, was created by law #73-20 on April 14, 1973. Its principal role is
to promote Tunisia's foreign trade, especially its exports, and to assist
Tunisia's exporters and foreign importers in initiating business contacts.
Within this task CEPEX:
* undertakes market and marketing research;
0 advises and guides Tunisian exporters;
* assists foreign importers;
* disseminates commercial information;
• undertakes promotional actions;
* contributes to the development of the national foreign trade policy.
FOPRODEX (Fond de Promotion des Exportations), an export promotion fund
managed by CEPEX, is a public fund created by law #84-84 on December 31, 1984 to
help exporters access market research and promote Tunisian products abroad.
Specific actions that FOPRODEX can fund are in two categories:
1. Support actions directly related to exports!
subsidizing transport of new products and of products being
exported to countries not on the current list of countries
already slated for transport subsidies;
subsidizing interest rates on credits financing exports;
bonus to improve competitiveness of strategic products on
foreign markets.
2. Support export promotion actions, such as:
market studies;
* prospecting;
* participation in international fairs and exhibitions;
° advertising - brochures, catalogues, etc.
All exporters, individuals or groups, are eligible for support by filing
an application with FOPRODEX, which supports these activities on a case by case
basis through subsidies and credit at a subsidized interest rate.
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