TUNIS (TAP) - Foreign Direct Investments (FDI) rose by 24.1%, i.e. 1,436.3 million Tunisian dinars (MTD) in the period between 2011 and 2012 (8 months), according to statistics released, Thursday, by the Foreign Investment Promotion Agency (FIPA).
Foreign investments are divided between FDI with 1,365.4 MTD (1,099.3 MTD in 2011) and portfolio investment with 70.9 MTD (57.7 MTD in 2011).
Analysis of FDI flow reveals a 24.2% increase compared with last year, with a volume of 1,365.4 MTD.
During the first eighth months of the current year, 80 new companies entered into production, 109 extension operations were carried out and 46 project creations are underway.
These projects led to the creation of 7,501 new jobs, i.e. a rise of 3.26% compared with the previous year and 3.87% with 2010.
By sectors, the analysis of FDI flow reveals a focus on energy (860 MTD) and manufacturing industries (313.4 MTD).
FDI in tourism and real estate reached 74 MTD (+578.9% compared with 2011 and +2.4% compared with 2010).
Investment made in the services sector fell 26.6% to 89 MTD, while FDI dedicated to agriculture remain low (3.6 MTD), i.e. 0.8% of FDI flows exclusive of energy.
FDI realised in manufacturing industries are estimated at 313.4 MTD (+27.8%) compared to 2011 and 2.7% compared to 2010.
A more detailed analysis of the distribution of FDI in the manufacturing industries reveals a strong concentration in some activities.
Thus, electrical and electronic industries rank first in the amount of investment (79.5 MTD) and job creation (2,737), followed by mechanical industries (62.1 MTD) and those of building materials (59 MTD) and textile and clothing (33 MTD).
France ranks first in FDI with nearly 117 MTD, followed by Qatar with 110 MTD. Italy comes third with 68.6 MTD.
In terms of employment, Italian investments have generated 2,515 new jobs in the 52 projects created, whereas German investments have generated 1,103 jobs out in 14 projects.
© Tunis-Afrique Presse 2012
