Friday, Jan 27, 2012
By Summer Said
Of DOW JONES NEWSWIRES
DAVOS, Switzerland (Dow Jones)--Foreign investors are returning to Tunisia a year after the uprising in the North African country scared away many of them, Prime Minister Hamadi Jebali said Friday.
"And we are preparing the country for them in terms of security and new investment regulations," Jebali told Dow Jones Newswires in an interview at the World Economic Forum.
But he said the European debt crisis is hindering efforts to improve the economy.
"Our trade is of course largely affected by the European debt crisis as about 80% of our trade is with Europe, but hopefully situation will change," he said.
A draft budget presented in November forecasts economic growth of 4.5% this year, up from almost zero last year and 3.7% percent in 2010.
"Economic conditions are likely to improve this year. The economic situation is affecting the political transition in the country so we are working on urgent solutions and fixes," he said.
-By Summer Said, Dow Jones Newswires; +966-546-842373; summer.said@dowjones.com
(END) Dow Jones Newswires
27-01-12 1137GMT
