Spanish-Tunisian Business Encounter

Casa Árabe took part in the meetings held from April 7-9 in Tunisia.

The gathering was officially opened by the Spanish Minister of Industry, Energy and Tourism, José Manuel Soria, and by his Tunisian counterpart, Kamel Ban Naceur, the Tunisian Minister of Industry, Energy and Mines. During his speech, Soria made clear the need to strengthen the business ties between the two countries and sent a message of support from the Spanish government as to the transition process which Tunisia is currently undergoing, as well as its clear will to cooperate in terms of the political stability which has just been consolidated with the recent enactment of the Tunisian constitution only a few months ago.

The event, organized by the International CEOE with the direct cooperation of the Tunisian Union of Industry (UTICA) –the main business organization in Tunisia–, led to an important declaration of intentions by both governments to increase economic and business relations between the two countries and open up the administrative channels required to do so.  

The Spanish Minister traveled along with a delegation comprised of approximately twenty businesspeople, who got the opportunity to meet with Tunisian authorities and take part in industry meetings with local companies in the fields of renewable energies, agro-industry, infrastructures, construction, transportation and logistics.

This encounter allowed the participating Spanish businesspeople to become more familiar with the potential offered by the country, where, in comparison with other countries of the Maghreb, such as Algeria and Morocco, the Spanish business presence is still quite reduced.

In this sense, Tunisia can be viewed as an interesting market for Spanish investment, fundamentally in the industries of infrastructure, technological development and renewable energies. In addition to its current and foreseeable future need for investment in these fields, Tunisia is a destination through which access may be gained to the Algerian and Libyan markets, making the smallest country in North Africa a bridge for direct access to these two markets. This is a factor to be taken into account by those companies which wish to expand their area of activity.