BUSINESSMED took part on 30 April 2019 in the Tunisian-Italian Economic Forum, organised in Tunis by the Italian Embassy in Tunisia, the Italian Foreign Trade Agency in Tunis, the Italian Ministries of Economic Development and Foreign Affairs, Confindustria and UTICA Tunisia.

This event, attended by Tunisian and Italian ministers, senior officials and economic and social actors, was an important opportunity to strengthen and develop the commercial and industrial partnership opportunities that Tunisia offers to Italian companies.

Mr Samir Majoul, President of UTICA, stressed that Italy is Tunisia’s strategic partner given the significant number of Italian companies established in Tunisia. He also highlighted the factors that make Tunisia one of the most attractive markets in the southern Mediterranean, namely geographical proximity, trade agreements with the European Union, and new regulations to attract foreign investment.

Mr Giuseppe Conte, President of the Italian Council of Ministers, stressed the need to pursue economic and administrative reforms in particular as regards the facilitation of administrative procedures and the encouragement of investments to further promote the Tunisian-Italian partnership.

Mr Luigi Di Maio, Italian Minister for Economic Development, stressed that the private sector is a strength for both countries. He explained how it was thanks to its private sector that Italy was able to cope with the economic crisis and maintain itself as a major economic power in Europe.