SFAX - Opportunities for co- operation, partnership and exchange between the Sfax Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCI) and its Chinese Shanghai counterpart were the focus of the working session held on Monday in Sfax, on a delegation from the Shanghai CCI's visit to the region.
Shanghai CCI Deputy-Chairman Yu Chen, who is heading this Chinese delegation, pointed out that the multiple co-operation and exchange opportunities should be seized by Sfax and Shanghai which is poised to become China's first economic, industrial, financial and trade centre.
He added that Tunisia's promotion in business circles as a tourist destination is among Shanghai CCI's main actions during the coming period. Actually, 3,509 Chinese tourists visited Tunisia in 2009, compared with 2,748 in 2008, which represents a 28-per-cent rise.
In addition to tourism, co-operation strategy between both CCIs will benefit such sectors as the food, mechanical, electrical, textile, leather and footwear industries.
During the working session, representatives of the tourism, trade, exportation, agriculture and fisheries, handicrafts and industry sectors from Sfax region, enumerated a list of products that could be exported to China, more precisely to Shanghai.
Mainly, this has to do with reinforcing presence of olive oil on the Chinese market, in addition to the opportunities to be taken in the technological and handicrafts areas.
The volume of exchanges between Tunisia and Shanghai reached 40 million dollars in the first four months of the current year, i.e., a 14% rise compared with the same period last year.
It is worth pointing out that China is Tunisia's 18th customer and 4th supplier, while Tunisia ranks 105th among China's suppliers.
© Agence Tunis Afrique Presse 2010
