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Invest in the MEDA region, why how ?
produced goods is because raw materials and semi‐finished
products account for nearly 30 percent of imports. Most of Tunisiaʹs
trade, especially its export trade, is with the EU. Nearly 70 percent
of Tunisian imports come from the EU, which also absorbs 80
percent of its exports. In 2005, Tunisian imports from EU countries
cost EUR 7.32 billion, with the EU’s market share falling from 71.6
percent in 2001 to 69 percent in 2005. Tunisian exports to the EU
earned EUR 6.75 billion. France alone supplied over 27 percent of
total imports (26 percent in 1995), accounting for one third of the
export market. Italy and to a lesser extent Germany are the
country’s other main trading partners.
Tunisia is traditionally a net exporter of services. Tourism accounts
for more than half of foreign exchange earnings from non‐factor
services, TD 2.564 billion in 2005. Remittances from Tunisian
workers living abroad have increased steadily and now rank just
behind earnings from tourism (TD1.783 million).
At the end of 2005, more than 2700 foreign companies or joint
ventures were operating in Tunisia, employing nearly 260,000
people, 72 percent of these companies being export‐oriented (i.e.
exporting their entire production). FDI accounts for 10 percent of
productive investments and generates one third of total exports
and a sixth of employment. From 1990 to 2005, foreign direct
investment (FDI) rose from TD 78 million to approximately TD
1.016 billion (2.7 percent of GDP). More than 32 percent of the sums
involved have been invested in manufacturing, 38 percent in the
energy industry, 22.4 percent in services including 2.8 percent in
tourism and property, and 1.3 percent in agricultural activities.
Overall, FDI comes mainly from the European Union, but also from
the United States and the Middle East.
Tunisia was the first MEDA country to sign the Association
Agreement with the EU, in the framework of the Barcelona process.
This was concluded on 17 July 1995 and came into effect on March
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