Tunisia

Tunisia is the most northern country in Africa. It is part of the five Maghreb countries.  The country borders with Algeria to the west, with Libya to the south-east, and with the Mediterranean Sea to the east and to the north.

In recent years, many international financial organizations set the Tunisian economy as an example of successful growth. Its financial and social progress has made a significant contribution to the country’s trade potential. Even though Tunisia’s economy is dominated by several large sectors, it is well-diversified. The economy mainly relies on the mineral exports, especially phosphates and petroleum, on the expanding manufacturing sector that has received a lot of investments, and on the agricultural products.

One of Tunisia’s most productive economic highlights is the direct investment in the country’s human resources. Much of the state budget is spent on health care, education, social development, etc.

Due to the swift development of infrastructure, communication and technology, Tunisia has greatly improved its production range and international trade relations. In the last few years, several sectors have significantly expanded: electronics, chemistry, textile and leather production. Despite this, tourism still remains the leading sector of the Tunisian economy.

Besides the well-established relations with the Arab world, Tunisia also maintains strong economic ties with the EU. The effects of the economic globalization contribute to the country’s development by attracting large numbers of investors from all around the world, but mostly Europe, Japan and the USA.

Tips for Doing Business in Tunisia

• Punctuality and being on time is important in Tunisian business culture, in contrast to the rest of the Arab world. Deadlines are also taken seriously and you will be expected to deliver on time.
• Business is open on Fridays in Tunisia and generally starts at 8am and finishes at 6pm. During some summer months, especially August, business hours are usually shortened.
• Relationships, contacts and favors are essential to business in Tunisia. You should consider this and be ready to invest plenty of time into relationship and contact building. If you are making new business contacts in Tunisia, they will most definitely get to know you before moving on to business.
• Business is often discussed in cafes and restaurants.
• French and Arabic are the usual languages of business. You should always check which language you will be communicating in. You might need to hire a personal interpreter.
• Tunisians usually look for long-term business relationships, rather than one time deals. They also like to work with people they know and respect.
• Business attire in Tunisia is formal and usually consists of a suit and tie. Women usually wear business suits or dresses. It is okay to leave your suit jacket behind during the intense heat of the summer, but try to be as formal as possible, especially on your first meeting.

Cost of Living

The following table compares the costs of some basic products in Tunis, Tunisia and Sofia, Bulgaria.

Official Holidays in Tunisia

1 January – New Year’s Day
15 February – Mouled (Prophet’d Birthday)
20 March – Independence Day
21 March – Youth Day
9 April – Martyrs’ Day
1-2 May – Labour Day
25 July Republic Day
13 August – Women’s Day
30 August – Eid al-Fitr (End of Ramadan)
6 November – Eid al-Idha (Feast of the Sacrifice)
7 November – New Era Day
26 November – Hegire (Islamic New Year)