Thursday, 24 October 2013

    MONTREAL (TAP/TAP special correspondent in Canada Sami KECHAOU) - The works of the Tunisian-Canadian business forum, organised on the occasion of the inauguration of the first airline between the two countries, launched by Syphax Airlines, started Thursday October 24 inMontreal.

    On this occasion, Tunisians and Canadians voiced determination to energise the bilateral relations between the two countries despite the little favourable circumstance in Tunisia.

    "The new link between Tunis and Montreal and this forum is a historical moment in the relations between the two countries," Canadian ambassador in Tunis Sébastien Beaulieu said at the opening of the forum. He added "the will driving the Tunisian and Canadian businessmen and officials to seize the partnership opportunities constitutes a guarantee of success despite the news that play them bad roles, in illusion to the painful events occurred yesterday in Tunisia." In turn, Matin Brunelle, representative of the "Desjardins" group, the largest financial group of Canada and the fourth in the world, considered "historical" the creation of direct flight between Tunis and Montreal, voicing entire readiness of this group to support the co-operation initiatives to come out from this forum. Riadh Essid, Tunisia's ambassador to Canada announced, on the fringes of this forum, that a representation of the Foreign Investment Promotion Agency (FIPA) will shortly open in Canada, given the co-operation prospects and the increase of the number of Tunisians residing in this country, which rose from 3,000 persons in 1996 to 21,000 presently.

    This representation will cover all the zone of North America, he specified in a statement to TAP news agency, highlighting the opportunities offered by the Tunisian-Canadian partnership in strong added-value sectors such as aeronautics, tourism, ICTs and others.

    Minister in charge of Economic Files Ridha Saidi said that Tunisia presently strives to clean up the investment climate and fight against violence and terrorism, reviewing the measures and reforms taken to modernise and promote the business climate.

    For his part, Chiheb Slama, member of the executive bureau of the Tunisian Industry, Trade and Handicrafts Union (UTICA) gave an overview of the contribution of the employers Organisations and the Tunisian private sector in the economic and social development work and the integration of the country in the international economic circuit.

    "Tunisie has always been a peaceful country because of its history and a privileged destination", Jalel Bouraoui vice-president of Tunisian-Canadian Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

    According to him, the creation of a direct Tunis-Montreal airline makes the dream of the chamber and a large number of Tunisian and Canadian persons comes true. The Montreal forum helped the Canadian participants have an idea on the business environment and opportunities in Tunisia and their Tunisian counterparts to know about making business in Canada.

    Workshops and round tables in matters of ICTs, tourism, health, education, food industry, banks and finance and media were also included in the agenda of the gathering.

    A testimony on the experience of the Tunisian firm "CHO America Inc", which achieved success in Canada, will be presented by its representative Stephen Wise.

    © Tunis-Afrique Presse 2013