Tunisia holds forum to attract investment

TUNIS, Nov. 9 (Xinhua) -- A forum that gathered about 1,500 international investors, entrepreneurs and project promoters was kicked off here Thursday, aiming to help the North African country attract more investment.

"Our strong message to foreign investors, through this event, is the fact that Tunisia will remain an attractive economic destination with high competitiveness capabilities," said Tunisian Prime Minister Youssef Chahed at the opening ceremony of the "Tunisia Investment 2017" Forum.

According to Chahed, Tunisia doubled its growth in one year from 1 percent in 2016 to almost 2.3 percent so far and the growth in 2018 is expected to reach 3 percent.

Foreign investments increased by 7 percent during the first 10 months of this year, he added.

Tunisian Minister of Investment and International Cooperation Zied Laadhari said certain industrial sectors have great potential for investment, highlighting manufacturing industries, automotive components, aeronautics, pharmaceutical industries, agro-industry, mechanical and electrical industries, and textile-clothing.

"We are betting on other sectors including tourism, renewable energy, information and communication technologies. In this context, Tunisia offers significant potential for investors especially in the private sector," Laadhari told Xinhua.

"Among the projects envisaged by the Tunisian government in the next five years: a highway that will connect the north with the west-center of Tunisia, inter-provincial express roads, modernization and reconstruction of the rail transport network," said Ridha Saidi, adviser to Chahed.

Source: Xinhua net