Tunisia ambitions to become “silicon valley” of the Mediterranean
Tunis , June 13, 2008 (TunisiaOnline)--Tunisia harbors the ambition of becoming the “silicon valley“ of the Mediterranean by 2016 said Mr Afif Chelbi, the Minister of industry, energy and small and medium enterprises on Friday.
Mr Chelbi's statement was made during a workshop on the manufacturing industry, organized within the framework of the Carthage Investment Forum which was held on June 12 and 13, 2008 in Tunis .
In doing so, Tunisia will focus on four priority sectors, namely automobile and airplane components, leather and shoe ware, agro-food and biotechnologies.
Mr Chelbi also said that the mega-projects financed by gulf capitals were not only limited to the housing sector but that they would allow for the emergence of gigantic services platforms, in line with international standards.
Tunisia , added the minister, also aims at doubling its industrial exports from 15 billion dinars to 30 billion dinars, as well as achieving a three fold increase of investments to reach 3 billion dinars.
Insofar as car parts and airplane components are concerned, exports will witness a five fold increase to reach 1050 million dinars, whereas the rate of subcontracting in the sector, will be raised from 65% in 2005 to 77% by 2015, he also said.
Twenty new projects are now under construction in the sector of automobile components, and should lead to the creation of 20,000jobs, he noted. The projects are due to be located in several main towns of the interior, including Beja, le Kef, Kairouan and Siliana.
Mr Chelbi also reminded the audience that Tunisia is the southern Mediterranean country that attracts the largest number of European industries (two thousand enterprises).
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