São Paulo – The Tunisian minister of Foreign Affairs Khemaies Jhinaoui will be in Brazil next April along with a delegation of business executives. The information was made public this Tuesday (14) by the ambassador of Tunisia in Brasília, Mohamed Hedi Soltani, while visiting the offices of the Arab Brazilian Chamber of Commerce in São Paulo.
In Brasília, the foreign minister will attend the meeting of the Brazilian-Tunisian Joint Commission, which gathers to discuss the countries’ interests in different areas, and agreements will be entered into in education, scientific research, sports, economy, trade, and between the countries’ national libraries.
In São Paulo, the delegation will have a business-oriented schedule including an economic forum, business matchmaking, a meeting of the Brazil-Tunisia Business Council, etc. “There will be importers and exporters from several sectors who are interested in the [Brazilian] market,” Soltani told ANBA.
Tunisia is particularly interested in drawing foreign investment in, because it needs to create jobs for a large number of unemployed youths with college diplomas. The country has been through a protracted transition to democracy since 2011, but it still struggles with rekindling its economy.
Tunisia is in talks with Brazil for an Agreement on Cooperation and Facilitation of Investments (ACFI), as well as for a trade agreement with the Mercosur.
The ambassador mentioned that Tunisia has sustained an association agreement with the European Union since 1995, and trade agreements with African countries, apart from boasting a good infrastructure for access to neighboring countries, which ensures it a privileged position in those markets. He believes Brazilian companies that make their way into Tunisia could benefit from these treaties.
Soltani has helmed the embassy in Brasília for two months now. He said that before leaving Tunisia, he questioned the minister as to priorities in bilateral relations, to which the minister retorted: “The priority is the economy.” “In other words, trade and investments,” the diplomat said, with a special emphasis on investments.
The ambassador also discussed tourism, a key activity for Tunisia’s economy that has performed poorly in the past few years. “I believe that we may be in for a new beginning this year. There was some recovery last year already,” he asserted. Expectations are high regarding European tourists. “The premises are good,” he added. High season in the Northern Hemisphere happens during the summer.
*Translated by Gabriel Pomerancblum
