An international economic and investment conference for supporting Tunisia will kick off tomorrow in the capital Tunis with participation of over 70 countries, tens of companies and international economic institutions.
The two-day conference is taking place upon an initiative of Emir H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, with the aim of enhancing Tunisian Government Development Plan 2016-2020, and to mobilise funds and investment for developing infrastructure projects.
The conference is being held under the theme “Tunisia: Reforms and Investment Opportunities” and will discuss the future vision and development plan 2020 and major reforms undertaken by the government.
Following the official opening speeches, two session under the title “Tunisia: service platform open to the world” and three seminars on digital economy, tourism and education are going to take place on the first day. The second day will witness three sessions on industry, logistics, mechanical and electrical industries, health and pharmaceutical industries. The sessions will also discuss papers on textile industries, green economy, sources of renewable energy, agriculture and food industries and management of water resources.
Qatar is keen to stand beside the Tunisian people and create a conducive environment that would enable the country to tackle the economic situation it is currently facing, said Minister of Foreign Affairs H E Mohammed bin Abdurrahman Al Thani, during a meeting held last September by countries sponsoring the conference. (Qatar, France and Canada)
Qatar has managed to mobilise regional and international support for the conference alongwith efforts by France and Canada.
Qatar-Tunisian relations have witnessed significant development since 2011, where Qatar began to finance joint funds including the Emiri donation of 2013 with a value of $97m. This was followed by the launch of the Qatar Friendship Fund Tunisia (QFF) which financed 3,400 projects and created over 10,000 job opportunities. The fund has a plan to create over 15,000 new job opportunities before the end of 2018. The bank of Financing Small and Medium Enterprises is one of the major partners of the QFF dealing with 242 enterprises and funded 187 companies and created 3870 job opportunities.
The Tunisian Entrepreneurs Network is another partner of QFF has managed to finance 166 small and medium projects and created 2824 job positions.
QFF also allocated $ 15 m for Qatar Charity to implement several projects including five schools, 10 health centers, pavement of roads with length of 250 kms and supported 500 local farmer’s associations. For similar purposes the QFF supported Raf charity with $ 3 m.
The Tunisian Development Association has trained 267 people and created 223 job chances with support of QFF.
As part of QFF initiative Intilaq project trained youth entrepreneurs on developing modern technology projects. The project implemented by Oreedoo and Microsoft Company and funded 27 new projects. Similar training was conducted by Confederation of Tunisian Citizen Enterprises CONECT, where 744 entrepreneurs were trained and 7040 projects were supported.
The Tunisian Solidarity Bank owned by the government and specialized in funding small and medium projects has supported 98 companies and provided with 370 job positions in cooperation with QFF.
Qatar has also supported construction of 810 residential units in Sidi Hussein area, and allocated $1.1 m for construction of 50 residential units in Sidi Yusuf area in Kef governorate.
