A Special Advertising Section on Tunisia

Ambassador Mejdoub: Building Stronger US Partnerships

Tunisia has come a long way in less than a generation. Since gaining independence forty two years ago, the country has consistently and successfully met the challenges of a developing nation by having the foresight to address the issues of family planning, education, and the rights of women.

Noureddine Mejdoub, the Tunisian Ambassador to the U.S., speaks with great pride about the political, economic and social accomplishments his country has achieved in a relatively short time.

Social development has always been a corner stone of President Ben Ali's administration. The National Solidarity Fund, created and administered directly under the presidency (see page 2 story), has provided some of the country's most disadvantaged regions with the minimum of basic necessities such as electricity, potable water and decent housing.

No one could have predicted the magnitude of the Fund in terms of empowering the lives of the people. "It has received ten times the response of what was expected," says Mejdoub.

Political stability and economic growth are two other important contributing factors to Tunisia's attractiveness, especially for foreign direct investment. The 1998 report on competitiveness in Africa, prepared by the World Economic Forum of Davos, places Tunisia second among African countries.

In light of the June visit to Tunisia by Stuart Eizenstat, undersecretary of state for economic affairs, trade and investment is currently a high priority in terms of bilateral relations between the two countries.

The Eizenstat Initiative actively promotes economic cooperation between Tunisia, Algeria, Morocco and the U.S to create a new U.S.-Maghreb Economic Partnership. In the spring of 1999, representatives from the four countries are planning to meet in the U.S. with members of the private sector to advance trade and investment.

The geographic location of Tunisia at the crossroads of the eastern and western Mediterranean accounts for its strategic position as an investment and commercial hub for the region.

When asked about Americans being able to compete fairly in Tunisia, Mejdoub was quick to point out that although Europe has strong historical ties with Tunisia, it is not to the exclusion of Americans.

Ideally, Tunisia would like a trading partnership with the U.S. comparable to the one with Europe.

"We must do more to convince Americans that Tunisia is not exclusively dependent on Europe. We want to work with everyone."

In order to diversify and reinforce its partnership with the U.S., Tunisia has increased its contacts and business relations in the American private sector.

It is in this context that the Central Bank of Tunisia, in September 1997, ventured into the U.S. domestic bond market in New York, with a $400 million issue.

Also that year, Boeing and Community Energy Alternatives (C.E.A.-New Jersey) won major contracts in Tunisia.

Tunisian trade missions have been planned notably for the Great Lakes region, with principle targets being the investment sectors of automotive parts, electronics and the agro-business. The mission will try to educate Americans about the advantages of doing business in Tunisia. Advantages include lower production costs and high quality labor, as well as Tunisia's position as a gateway to Europe, Africa and the Middle East.

To further strengthen political, economic and cultural ties between the United States and Tunisia, the Hannibal Club USA, named for the Carthaginian general, was launched this past June in Washington. A fitting name, considering the Carthaginian reputation for trade.

The club will serve as another bridge between the two countries and will concentrate its activities in three areas: geopolitical, economic and commercial and cultural.

As in ancient Carthage, modern Tunisia has much to offer in terms of trade and investment opportunities, particularly in export-oriented industries.