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19 May 2016
DOHA: Tunisian President Beji Caid Essebsi yesterday described relations between his country and Qatar as ''eligible for progress'', as Tunisia has proposed to set up a $2bn joint fund with Qatar in which both countries would contribute $1bn each. The fund would be invested in various sectors in Tunisia.
The President, along with his delegation, yesterday met members of Qatar Chamber at St Regis Hotel where both sides discussed ways to further increase trade, investment and economic cooperation between Tunisia and Qatar.
Addressing the meeting, the Tunisian President said that his visit to Qatar is a promising one and whenever he visits Qatar he notices a tangible progress.
Essebsi, on his third visit to Qatar, noted that Qatar is the biggest Arab investor in Tunisia and the second after France on the international level.
He said his country is working to prepare its legislative environment to be attractive for investments and is endeavouring to amend many laws specially those related to economic practices.
He also encouraged the Tunisian private sector to enter the investment sector in Qatar and upgrade the levels of investment in it, adding that businessmen have a big role to play in activating economic relations between the two sides. Essebsi said that the Tunisian-Qatari relations would kick off anew in a future order in which the private sector would play a significant role.
Mohamed Kooli, Board Executive Member, Tunisian Confederation of Industry, Trade and Handicrafts said that Tunisia has proposed to set up $2bn joint fund with Qatar.
"Setting up of a joint fund is proposal from our side. The fund will be invested in automotive, agriculture, food production and other sectors in Tunisia," he said talking to mediapersons on the sidelines of meeting.
"There are tremendous opportunities which both countries can explore. Tunisia offers opportunities for Qatar in agriculture, olive oil, dates, sugar, meat, other oils, milk, animal feeds, components of automotives sectors," he added. "The recent liberalisatin in the country has created immense opportunities for investors and businessmen," said Kooli.
Sheikh Khalifa bin Jassem bin Mohammed Al Thani, Chairman, Qatar Chamber, said that the Qatari side has an idea for establishing a joint fund between the Qatari public and private sectors which targets the realisation of cooperation between the two sector for the sake of investment in Tunisia within a short period of time.
He added that a Qatari business delegation will visit Tunisia before the end of this year.
"Qatari businessmen will visit Tunisia in the fourth quarter of this year to discuss issues of mutual interest. There are opportunities in tourism, car manufacturing and other sectors," he said.
Tunisia is also planning to increase the capacity of Qatar-Tunisian Food Company, founded in 2000 after strong demand for its products in Qatar and other countries. The company specialises in importing and bottling olive oil from Tunisia. "We are happy with the performance of existing plant in Qatar and want to increase its capacity. We want to duplicate this model in other parts of Qatar and even in GCC. We would like to cover other countries and regions such as Asia," he said.
DOHA: Tunisian President Beji Caid Essebsi yesterday described relations between his country and Qatar as ''eligible for progress'', as Tunisia has proposed to set up a $2bn joint fund with Qatar in which both countries would contribute $1bn each. The fund would be invested in various sectors in Tunisia.
The President, along with his delegation, yesterday met members of Qatar Chamber at St Regis Hotel where both sides discussed ways to further increase trade, investment and economic cooperation between Tunisia and Qatar.
Addressing the meeting, the Tunisian President said that his visit to Qatar is a promising one and whenever he visits Qatar he notices a tangible progress.
Essebsi, on his third visit to Qatar, noted that Qatar is the biggest Arab investor in Tunisia and the second after France on the international level.
He said his country is working to prepare its legislative environment to be attractive for investments and is endeavouring to amend many laws specially those related to economic practices.
He also encouraged the Tunisian private sector to enter the investment sector in Qatar and upgrade the levels of investment in it, adding that businessmen have a big role to play in activating economic relations between the two sides. Essebsi said that the Tunisian-Qatari relations would kick off anew in a future order in which the private sector would play a significant role.
Mohamed Kooli, Board Executive Member, Tunisian Confederation of Industry, Trade and Handicrafts said that Tunisia has proposed to set up $2bn joint fund with Qatar.
"Setting up of a joint fund is proposal from our side. The fund will be invested in automotive, agriculture, food production and other sectors in Tunisia," he said talking to mediapersons on the sidelines of meeting.
"There are tremendous opportunities which both countries can explore. Tunisia offers opportunities for Qatar in agriculture, olive oil, dates, sugar, meat, other oils, milk, animal feeds, components of automotives sectors," he added. "The recent liberalisatin in the country has created immense opportunities for investors and businessmen," said Kooli.
Sheikh Khalifa bin Jassem bin Mohammed Al Thani, Chairman, Qatar Chamber, said that the Qatari side has an idea for establishing a joint fund between the Qatari public and private sectors which targets the realisation of cooperation between the two sector for the sake of investment in Tunisia within a short period of time.
He added that a Qatari business delegation will visit Tunisia before the end of this year.
"Qatari businessmen will visit Tunisia in the fourth quarter of this year to discuss issues of mutual interest. There are opportunities in tourism, car manufacturing and other sectors," he said.
Tunisia is also planning to increase the capacity of Qatar-Tunisian Food Company, founded in 2000 after strong demand for its products in Qatar and other countries. The company specialises in importing and bottling olive oil from Tunisia. "We are happy with the performance of existing plant in Qatar and want to increase its capacity. We want to duplicate this model in other parts of Qatar and even in GCC. We would like to cover other countries and regions such as Asia," he said.
© The Peninsula 2016
