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FOREIGN INVESTMENTS
Tunisia's thriving economy creates an attractive atmosphere for investors from the European Union, Japan and the
United States in 2004. More than 2,659 foreign firms have direct investments in or joint ventures with Tunisian
companies they employ 243,125 people. Many of these firms were attracted by Tunisia's proximity and preferential
trading relations with the European Union and the Arab Maghreb Union, as well as by the newly revised Investment
Code which offered tax and customs concessions to foreign investors and reduced the administrative "red tape"
required for project approval. A particular incentive for U.S. Investors is the Tunisian-U.S.
Bilateral Investment Treaty (BIT), signed in January 1993, that
guarantees the safety of investments and profit repatriation.
Foreign Direct Investment flow (privatization excluded) increased by 11% in the first 2 months 2001 as compared
to the same period in 2000 and portofolio investment grew by 14% .
Rating
A low-risk investment site
Appraisals and ratings granted to Tunisia by specialized agencies get
better rand better.
Since 1994, Tunisia has received top investment grades from financial institutions and rating agencies.
Ratings for Tunisia in 2005
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Standard & Poor's |
BBB |
| American agencies |
Moody's |
Baa2 |
| European agency |
IBCA |
BBB |
| Japanese agency |
R & I |
BBB+ |
- The COFACE attributes to Tunisia a quiet good risk as middle term quotation
- The Italian Public Company for Export Insurance the "SACE"
raised Tunisia to the "A" grade.
This mark of confidence is due in particular to its classification in
third category of risk according to OECD, to the attribution of "Investment Grade", to the good management
of debt and also to the stability which it enjoys.
Tunisia is one of the best "country risks" in the MENA
region
According to the Middle East and North Africa publication "MENA report" for the year 2002 on country
risk, Tunisia is ranked best country risk in the regions (risk 6.5) compared to the 19 countries of the regions,
just after the United Arab Emirates (risk 8) and ahead of Morocco (risk 6), Egypt (5.8), Algeria (3.3) and Jordan
(risk 5).
This sign of confidence is due in particular to its in-house political
stability, its commitment to pursue the economic reforms and to the development of its foreign trade.
For more information on investment and business opportunities in Tunisia,
visit the investintunisia.tn website.
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