São Paulo – Investment in Tunisian industry reached 1.49 billion dinars, equivalent to US$ 934.4 million, in the first five months of this year, up 2% from the same period of 2011. The figures were disclosed by the Agency for the Promotion of Industry and Innovation, a branch of the Tunisian Ministry of Industry. The eastern region of the country received the most investment.
Of the total invested, 510 million dinars, approximately US$ 318 million at current exchange rates, consisted of investment with foreign participation. There was, however, a decline in the presence of foreign capital, which was down 3.5% compared with the first five months of last year, when foreign capital investment reached 528.2 million dinars (US$ 329 million).
The Agency for the Promotion of Industry and Innovation also issued figures for exports, which amounted to 8.9 billion Tunisian dinars, or approximately US$ 5.5 billion, from January to May, up 3.2% from the same period of 2011. Last year’s figure was 8.65 billion dinars, equivalent to US$ 5.4 billion.
The Arab country’s main sources of income are mineral production, including fertilizers, agriculture, the processing industry, including textiles, and tourism.
The country exports mainly to Europe and had a Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of US$ 46 billion last year. In 2011, popular protests in Tunisia led to a change in political regime.
*Translated by Gabriel Pomerancblum
