Tunisia expects trade with Egypt to reach $1 billion
The Tunisian Prime Minister Sarra Zaafrani Zenzri has said she expects trade between Egypt and Tunisia to reach one billion US dollars by the end of the next five years, reports Zawya on September 12.
Zenzri made the comments whilst she chaired the opening of the 18th session of the Tunisian-Egyptian Joint High Commission on September 11, where her Egyptian counterpart Mostafa Kamal Madbouly was also in attendance.
Currently, Zenzri views the trade between the two nations as “very modest, below expectations, and not reflective of the potential and opportunities available in both countries.”
A response to the fact that Egypt invests only 3.45 million USD in Tunisia, whilst Tunisian investments in Egypt stand at nearly 156 million USD. In 2024, total trade between the two countries did not exceed 450 million USD.
To raise investments, Zenzri called for the implementation of the various recommendations that arose from the meetings of the technical and sectoral committees. She highlighted the key role the private sector should play in boosting investment between the two nations.
Zenzri also noted how joint membership in more than one economic area could see increased opportunities for further cooperation between the two nations. She drew attention to the membership of both nations within the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa and the African Continental Free Trade Area, which would allow both nations to launch joint projects across Africa.
The meetings concluded with reflections on how the peace of both nations is dependent upon the ending of the Zionist occupation of Palestinian territories. During which Zenzri reiterated her desire to see the land of Palestine restored to the Palestinian people.
Israel has launched attacks upon several Islamic nations within the past few weeks, which meetings with both the Saudi foreign minister and the Iranian foreign minister have invoked whilst discussing trade deals with Tunisia to demonstrate the importance of uniting Islamic nations.
On September 10th, a boat, carrying humanitarian aid as part of the Gaza Sumud flotilla, was attacked by a drone whilst docked within Tunisian waters – it has not been confirmed which state or party orchestrated the attack.
However, it seems clear that the sovereignty of Islamic nations is being threatened and the need for a united Islamic front is dire.
Zawya, Maghrebi.org
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