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A CHANCE CALLED TUNISIA
Tunisia
Monday 14 December 2009
The recent Tunisian Agricultural exhibition SIAMAP, held from November 18 to 22 in Tunis, has confirmed the great appeal this small country has for those agricultural investors willing to perform product integration in the Mediterranean.
The recent Tunisian Agricultural exhibition SIAMAP, held from November 18 to 22 in Tunis, has confirmed the great appeal this small country has for those agricultural investors willing to perform product integration in the Mediterranean, by relying on features such as quality, typicality and organic farming.
For an even impressive number of reasons, special attention should be paid to the opportunities offered by Tunisia. First, Tunisia was the first country in the Southern shore of the Mediterranean to sign, in 1995, an agreement of association and free-trade with the European Union. This provides, among other things, a preferential access to its agricultural products.
Moreover, Tunisia has been granted the equivalency qualification in organic farming in accordance with the 2007-834 Regulation.
Third, the Tunisian Government - through specific laws - has begun to support not only foreign investments in Tunisia’s agriculture, by promoting joint-ventures, but has also opened to the possibility of farmland use by foreigners for a decade (with a renewable concession). Fourth, Tunisia has excellent farmlands where quality produce, typically Mediterranean, can be grown and where organic farming is already carried out with good results. Fifth, Tunisia is close to Europe, just an hour's flight from Rome and about two hours' flight from the French and Spanish coastal towns; it is also culturally close, as French is commonly spoken. What else can we ask? France is the first European investor in Tunisia (24%), Italy the second one (about 23%), Spain ranks third (8.5%). However we must watch out: also the Chinese, the Americans and the Arabs are attracted by the appealing features of this country. Woe betide Europe if it doesn’t run this race with more conviction and makes of Tunisia a major example of Euro-Mediterranean integration. The Italians in particular should more often nose around just outside their doors rather than wasting energy and money in far-away missions with unlikely results.
For an even impressive number of reasons, special attention should be paid to the opportunities offered by Tunisia. First, Tunisia was the first country in the Southern shore of the Mediterranean to sign, in 1995, an agreement of association and free-trade with the European Union. This provides, among other things, a preferential access to its agricultural products.
Moreover, Tunisia has been granted the equivalency qualification in organic farming in accordance with the 2007-834 Regulation.
Third, the Tunisian Government - through specific laws - has begun to support not only foreign investments in Tunisia’s agriculture, by promoting joint-ventures, but has also opened to the possibility of farmland use by foreigners for a decade (with a renewable concession). Fourth, Tunisia has excellent farmlands where quality produce, typically Mediterranean, can be grown and where organic farming is already carried out with good results. Fifth, Tunisia is close to Europe, just an hour's flight from Rome and about two hours' flight from the French and Spanish coastal towns; it is also culturally close, as French is commonly spoken. What else can we ask? France is the first European investor in Tunisia (24%), Italy the second one (about 23%), Spain ranks third (8.5%). However we must watch out: also the Chinese, the Americans and the Arabs are attracted by the appealing features of this country. Woe betide Europe if it doesn’t run this race with more conviction and makes of Tunisia a major example of Euro-Mediterranean integration. The Italians in particular should more often nose around just outside their doors rather than wasting energy and money in far-away missions with unlikely results.
