Egypt, Tunisia discuss economic cooperation

CAIRO - 11 November 2017: Egypt and Tunisia discussed Saturday boosting the economic cooperation via increasing the mechanism of the joint ventures between the two countries.

This came during the meeting of Egyptian-Tunisian preparatory ministerial committee, chaired by Minister of Investment and International Cooperation Sahar Nasr and Tunisia’s Trade Minister Omar el Bahi.

The meeting grouped representatives from different Egyptian and Tunisian ministries, including Foreign Affairs, Justice, Housing, Trade, Finance, Transport, Education, Investment and International Cooperation, along with Civil Aviation Petroleum and Communications. Tunisia’s ambassador in Cairo was also present.

The committee discussed enhancing the mutual coordination and overcoming any obstacles that could hinder the economic cooperation.

It also reviewed the preparations for the higher committee on Sunday between Prime Minister Sherif Ismail and his Tunisian counterpart Yossef al-Shahid.

Many deals in the fields of investment, health, renewable energy, maritime transport, ports, along with youth and sports are expected to be signed during the meeting between the two premiers.

Boosting the micro, small and medium enterprises, tourism, housing projects, women empowerment, and vocational training were also among the meeting agenda.

Nasr said the current period in Egypt witnesses enormous efforts to make a suitable climate attracting the Tunisian businessmen into the Egyptian economy and increasing their investments in Egypt.

Tunisia ranked 56 among investor states in Egypt, with 36 million dollars worth of investments in 2017, by 271 companies working in services, industry, tourism, and agriculture domains.

Tunisian private investments are expected to be increased in the light of the new investment law, which allows more facilities for investors, Nasr added.

From his part, el Bahi said the coming period needed more cooperation on the economic level, to meet the two countries aspirations.

He added that Tunis has enacted a new investment law, encouraging different investors to pour their investments into the country and establishing joint ventures, including Egyptian ones.