IIB attends Tunisia Economic Forum

The Forum attracted a few hundred businessmen and government officials mainly from the GCC, North Africa and Europe to discuss investment opportunities in Tunisia and the major government policies and regulation of interest to foreign direct investment.

Tunisia has recently attracted several mega projects exceeding $30bn in real estate and private equity. The projects include real estate projects of Sama Dubai inaugurated in August by H.H Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the UAE Vice-President and Ruler of Dubai, Manazel, Al Dar, Sourooh, Abu Khater Group, Italian group and a $2bn refinery by Qatar Petroleum to name a few.

Aabed Al-Zeera explained 'Tunisia is a very attractive market. Its proximity to Europe, growing neighboring markets in Algeria and Libya, quality of human resources, supportive government attitude to private sector and foreign direct investment make it an ideal place for investors seeking to diversify and penetrate this emerging region. It is my first visit to the country and I was pleasantly surprised by the development of the country'.

Mr. Al Zeera added 'We met several government officials in parallel to the Forum including H.E. the Prime Minister, H.E. the Minister of Development and Foreign Investment, H.E. the Minister of Tourism and H.E. the Head of the Mega-projects Commission. We have also visited a few companies and met with several high profile businessmen and private groups. IIB is currently studying several highly promising opportunities and soon will announce attractive opportunities in Tunisia in private equity and real estate. We hope to conduct a specific high level visit to the country to explore opportunities and introduce our Bank in more detail to the decision makers.'

'We have good deal sourcing capabilities and access to very credible partners in Tunisia which will help us to offer rewarding investment opportunities to our investors. The country is receiving a lot of attention at present, resulting from efforts made by Tunisia to diversify its economy, to establish a stringent regulatory framework and to improve its risk rating that comfort foreign investors. Tunisia is emerging as a bridge between Europe and North Africa for many foreign investors in particular those from the GCC. The country has signed bi-lateral and multi-lateral trade agreements that give access to several markets, which have attracted many investors to base their activities in Tunisia and to target those markets,' concluded Mohamed Hedi Mejai.