17 February 2017

The flow of foreign investment reached 2,145.0 MTD at the end of December, down 9.4% in comparison with 2015. It is shared out as follows: 2,057.2 MTD in foreign direct investment (+ 4.6%) and 87.8 MTD in portfolio investment (- 78.1%), the Foreign Investment Promotion Agency (FIPA) said. 

Energy, though posting a 1% drop, has the lion's share with 960.3 MTD in foreign investments. Industry investments totalled 794.5 MTD, up 40.4%. Agriculture saw its still-low investment edge up 123.4% to 20.8 MTD, while foreign investment in services fell 33.2% to 281.7 MTD.

FIPA Director General Khélil labidi told TAP this drop "is not cause for concern" particularly as foreign investment posted significant growth in agriculture and industry which help generate additional jobs.

© Tunis-Afrique Presse 2017