São Paulo – Tunisia should adopt an economic development model based on openness to other countries and diversification of foreign partners, according to information disclosed by the minister of Finance of the Arab country, Jalloul Ayed, while attending a forum on economy in the Maghreb.
According to Ayed, the country is still limited with regard to its economic potential, but the current government is already working to change the situation around through a few actions, such as the establishment of funds. The idea is for said funds to guarantee investment in large projects, especially in infrastructure, said Ayed.
The Tunisian economist Ezzedine Saidane, who also spoke at the meeting, agreed with the minister and claimed that the country truly needs a fairer, more balanced economic model for its relations with foreign partners. He mentioned that there is a need for diversification of international cooperation. Presently, according to Saidane, 80% of the country’s trade partners are European countries.
Tunisia’s main export items are textiles agricultural and mechanical products, phosphates and chemicals, hydrocarbons and electric equipment. The main buyers are France, Italy and Germany. The country’s imports, consisting mainly of textiles, machinery and equipment, hydrocarbons, chemical products, and foods, come from those same partners.
The Arab country exported the equivalent of US$ 16 billion in 2010 and imports, US$ 20 billion, according to data supplied by the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA). The Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of Tunisia grew by 3.4% last year, also according to the CIA. The Arab country has experienced social protests and a change of government recently.
*Translated by Gabriel Pomerancblum
