Cooperation 'below desired level' - Tunisian minister

Cooperation between Malta and Tunisia was still below the desired level and there was work to be done by both sides to increase opportunities for cooperation in various areas, the Tunisian Minister of Development and International Cooperation, Mohamed Nouri Jouini, told businessmen in Valletta yesterday.

The minister, who was accompanying Tunisian President Ben Ali in Malta, was giving a presentation at the Malta Chamber of Commerce and Enterprise on how business was developing in Tunisia and on prospects for further cooperation with Malta.

"We are proud of our achievements but we are also aware of challenges facing us," Mr Jouini said.

Chamber president Louis Apap-Bologna referred to Malta's membership of the EU, saying this historic step was also of significance to Tunisia.

"It is to your advantage if Malta as a trading partner and a potential market for investment should develop and prosper. This augurs well for future economic cooperation between our two countries which share a number of common features," Mr Apap-Bologna said.

Malta had always played and intended to continue to play the role of a bridge between the Arab world and Europe and vice versa and Tunisia might gain from this especially as Malta served as an open gateway to all the 25 EU member states, he said.

"As a new member, Malta brings an added Mediterranean dimension to the European Union, but the chamber has been somewhat disillusioned with the rate of progress registered so far with respect to the creation of a Euro-Mediterranean free trade area by the year 2010," Mr Apap Bologna said.