Maltese business gaining ground in Tunisia

An encouraging number of Maltese firms have in the past few years been gaining a stronger foothold in Tunisia, particularly in tourism, manufacturing, the construction sector and production of consumer goods, Bank of Valletta chairman Joseph F. X. Zahra said.

He was addressing a seminar at the San Gorg Corinthia Hotel that opened a week of activities being organised by the Tunisian Embassy in Malta.

The activities are being sponsored by Bank of Valletta.

He said other companies were studying the market and hopefully enough would start operations early next year.

In 2001, a total of $4.4 million worth of goods were imported from Tunisia, while exports from Malta amounted to $2.2 million.

Re-exports totalled $2.4 million, Mr Zahra said.

Mr Zahra went on to say that tourism was playing an important role in further consolidating relations between the two countries. Each year, over 7,000 Maltese travel to Tunisia on holiday or for business.

"We look with great enthusiasm at the signing of the free trade agreement between our countries. The agreement is going to be a fundamental instrument in further promoting trade and investment," Mr Zahra said.

For the last two years, BOV has been operating in Tunisia through its representative office headed by Robert Darmanin.