The move is to discover the African market and to increase Tunisian’s capacity to promote exports into targeted markets and also strengthen opportunities of partnership and investment between Tunisian businessmen and their African counterparts.

Since 2007, Tunisia has developed a plan to promote exports and trade with African countries. Moreover, The Tunisian Union of Industry (UTICA), Commerce and Handicrafts and CEPEX, the Tunisian centre for the Promotion of Exports, have agreed on an annual appointment with their African counterparts to promote trade and investment opportunities in the continent.

The annual appointment cover both technical and practical aspects regarding access to the African markets by providing an efficient facilitation and information service in order to retain and expand investment into Africa, focusing on how the business community can successfully make use of the preferential conditions.

The Tunisian exports to African countries increased from 132 million dinars ($101,632,274) in 2007 to 356 million dinars ($274,078,071). Tunisia continues to boost exports to the African continent as well as encouraging Tunisian businessmen to invest in Africa.

The Sfax Chamber of Commerce and Industry recently organized a series of economic and sectoral missions also to China, France and Germany which witnessed the participation of major Tunisian businessmen, investors and craftsmen, those meeting were aimed at highlighting the significant potential for Tunisian products being exported to those countries.