Turkey eyes Tunisia as key hub for African trade

Turkey’s ambassador to Tunisia, Ahmet Misbah Demircan, described the North African nation as a Mediterranean gateway to the continent, as reported by Daily Sabah on July 21st.

Demicran emphasised the strong trade relationship between the two countries and praised Tunisia’s diverse economy. “Tunisia is a country of tourism, agriculture, phosphate, dates, olive oil, and more,” he said. He noted that Tunisia imports a wide range of products from Europe, Turkey, and China.

Nevertheless, Tunisia’s significant debt and overall financial troubles are well documented. So much so that in recent months, there has been a significant push for foreign investment and forging geo-politically advantageous alliances.

Demircan reported that Turkey currently exports $1.2 billion worth of goods across all sectors to Tunisia. “Our cultural closeness and the trust Tunisians have in our country and products are at a very high level,” he added.

He pointed to opportunities in direct trade, software, energy infrastructure, tourism, agriculture, and the export of industrial spare parts and raw materials. Turkey also hosts 1,600 Tunisian students, strengthening educational links.

He highlighted Tunisia’s value as both “a gateway” and “a hub,” particularly within Turkey’s African Partnership Policy. “Tunisia is essentially the gateway of the Mediterranean to Africa. We want to further highlight Tunisia’s role as a hub,” he said.

Demircan pointed to the visit of Turkish Trade Minister Ömer Bolat as a “major milestone.” Turkey’s investments in Tunisia total $712 million, with 43 Turkish companies employing over 2,000 people across industries such as services, textiles, construction, chemicals, and transport.

Calling Tunisia, a “stable and significant export market,” Demircan noted the 2014 free trade agreement has broadened trade, with textiles, metals, and machinery leading exports. Turkish food, textile, and industrial brands enjoy wide recognition. “We firmly believe that the economic potential between us and Tunisia… will be realized in the near future,” he concluded.

Daily Sabah, Maghrebi.org