Johannesburg — AN EVER-strengthening Tunisian economy is helping the country become a key business hub for the North African region. In parallel with long-established trans-Mediterranean economic linkages with the EU, it is becoming a key economic bridge between North Africa and Europe in a broader Mediterranean context.
Meaningful trade across the Sahara from sub-Saharan African countries could see Tunisia also becoming Africa's alternative economic gateway to the Mediterranean region.
The new situation echoes days gone by, when the Carthaginians were a major trading power that challenged and almost conquered Rome. Carthage -- the modern city of Tunis -- was also a major import-export gateway for the trans-Saharan trade routes, with Timbuktu and other then bustling African business centres. Close proximity to Italy facilitated ivory, gold and other riches from Africa being quickly transported into the heart of Europe.
The new Tunisian economic growth and its strategic targeting have been driven by strong government initiative and leadership, but it has been in collaboration with an energetic local business sector supported by a strong middle class. A key emphasis has been capacity building to take advantage of opportunities.
Tunisia has used its relationship with the EU to drive its economy, and 1995 saw the first of the MEDA (Mediterranean Economic Development Association) countries sign an association agreement to dismantle tariffs, a process that by last year had resulted in 0% customs tariff on EU industrial imports to Tunisia. By 2010 it will have become a member of a free trade zone with the EU as provided for in the 1995 association agreement.
Tunisia is an active proponent of regional initiatives in North Africa and the Mediterranean for economic development in parallel with strengthened regional peace and security. This often overlaps with EU relations in such contexts as the MEDA cooperation process, the Neighbourhood Programme, and the recent Mediterranean Union concept.
In support of a diversified integrated regional economy Tunisia has placed special emphasis on the Agidir Process, aiming for a full customs union with such countries as Egypt and Morocco, which would allow members cumulation of rules of origin and preferential access to the EU market. Cumulation allows more than one country to jointly comply with the applicable rules of origin of a product. Last year Tunisia and Morocco launched an inter-linking maritime transport route with improved multi-modal cost-cutting systems. The 2007-2013 Regional Transport Action Plan, approved during a recent Euro-Med meeting, aims to establish an integrated Euro-Mediterranean transport system with Tunis a key hub.
Tunisia has no large oil or gas resources like its neighbours, and apart from relatively limited agricultural production has largely relied on skilled human resources, in conjunction with geo-strategic factors, as key economic supports. The services sector is increasingly important, while Tunisia has one of the most sophisticated tourism industries in the Mediterranean and an increasingly important movie-making industry.
Tunisia recently identified four industrial sectors as new priorities and these are fast becoming platforms for further diversified growth, with each already exporting goods worth more than € 1bn, largely into the EU. The four sectors are aeronautical and automotive components; TIC/off-shoring; textile, leather and shoes; and agro-food.
In recent years Tunisia has focused on short-orders in fashion and other sectors geared for EU retail networks, and the successes achieved have now spread to the automobile and electrical engineering sectors. The confidence of investing companies in the reliability and skills of the Tunisian economy was especially demonstrated last year, when Airbus established its first plant outside the EU for the production of components in Tunisia.
New investments have targeted the upgrade of Tunisian infrastructure and financial services in support of the vision of a growing economic hub. One of the most dramatic of such projects is the Dubai-driven construction of a new port and related urban area on the outskirts of Tunis that will be something like a small Dubai. On the financial front the fact that the African Development Bank has chosen Tunis as its current location helps underwrite its reputation for stability and economic leadership.
The actions involved in growing the Tunisian economy are of some relevance for South African business and deserve attention as much as the results that are materialising. This is not only because North Africa is a growing economic competitor on many fronts, but because much can be adapted to local circumstances.
Dr John Maré is an adviser on international public affairs and diplomacy for multinational companies, governments and international organisations. He is a senior adviser in the AEAC consultancy network focusing on EU/African business issues.
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A African boy depand on the world. I dont think the african natural resource is going to the place people need it to go. if african people most open an trade between other continent first they have to understand who they trading with and why?not only one person have to respond for all people but respond baze on people.
Theres the on-going legacy of Slavery which has taken on another form lynchings, murders, rapes, etc..
Be careful what you ask for..God is Listening to you Robbers of our People ; as Daniel 11:14 says.
HERES JUST A LITTLE OF THE BLOODY TRAIL EUROPE AND OTHER COUNTRIES HAVE LEFT UPON BLACK AFRICA.
PART I : BERLIN CONFERENCE ( General Act Of Berlin )
Saturday Novemeber 15, 1884 to Feb, 1885 according to the book King Leopolds Ghost (1998) Adam Hochschild
1884 - In November 14 European nations (Austria-Hungary, Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Great Britain, Holland, Italy, Norway, Portugal, Russia, Spain, Sweden and Turkey) and the US meet at the Conference of Berlin, called to carve up central Africa among them.
1885 - The Conference of Berlin concludes in February. France is given 670,000 square kilometres on the north bank of the Congo (modern Congo-Brazzaville and the Central African Republic) and Portugal 910,000 square kilometres to the south (modern Angola).
Over the next 23 years Léopold will amass a huge personal fortune by exploiting the Congo directly and by leasing concessions to private companies prepared to pay him 50% of their profits. The period will witness some of the worst atrocities ever committed on the African continent. However, Léopold will never visit the region, ruling instead by decree from Belgium.
PART II : BRUSSELS CONFERENCE
November 18, 1889 to July 2, 1890 a total of 16 Nations met :
A) Their cover story for meeting was : SUPRESSING THE SLAVE TRADE
B) Their secret agreements were on dividing up Black Africa among themselves
C) It took 33 sessions to reach agreement between these nations Heads Of States Names are inserted as they were in charge at the time of these plots :
1) Austria-Hungary - Francis Joseph I Charles - August 18, 1830 -
2) Belgium - King Leopold II April 9, 1835
3) Denmark - Frederik VIII - June 3, 1843
4) France - Marie François Sadi Carnot August 11, 1837 -
5) Germany - Wilhelm II - January 27, 1859
6) Great Britain - Queen Victoria May 24, 1819 British Ruler 2nd
7) Holland William III February 19, 1817
8) Italy - Umberto I - March 14, 1844 -
9 & 13 - Norway & Sweden - Oscar II January 21, 1829
10) Portugal - Carlos I - September 28, 1863
11) Russia - Alexander III March 10, 1845
12) Spain - Alfonso XIII May 17, 1886
14) Turkey - Abdülhamid II, - September 21 or September 22 - 1842 -
15) United States - Benjamin Harrison August 20, 1833 -
16) Persia (Iran) - Nasser al-Din Shah Qajar July 16, 1831 -
1889 - On 18 November the 15 signatories to 1885's 'General Act of Berlin', along with Persia, gather on Léopold's invitation at the 'Conference of Brussels' to discuss further measures for the suppression of the slave trade on the African continent.
1890 - After 33 sessions the Conference of Brussels concludes on 2 July with the participants declaring they are "animated by the firm intention of putting an end to the crimes and devastation engendered by the traffic in African slaves, of protecting effectually the aboriginal populations of Africa, and of insuring for the vast continent the benefits of peace and civilisation."
The general act ratified by the conference includes an article binding the signatories to "support and, if necessary, to serve as a refuge for the native populations; ... to diminish intertribal wars by means of arbitration; ... to raise them by civilisation and bring about the extinction of barbarous customs, such as cannibalism and human sacrifices; and, in giving aid to commercial enterprises, to watch over their legality, controlling especially the contracts for service entered into with natives."
For centuries Black Africans have been exploited and exploited in the name of Islam. Then with the coming of the Portueses (so-called Christians) to Ghana around the 1440s , the so-called Christians started their exploitation.
We Black Africans are puzzling. We have a bounty of riches around us, yet we persist in allowing outsiders to steal them; while we fight each other over trivial matters.
Just in case you're wondering, here's some Black Africans who have done wondrous things to change the way we live in the world.
For example : Garrett-Augustus Morgan invented the Traffic Signal to CURB (no pun intended) TRAFFIC ACCIDENTS !!!
* Buridge & Marshman - TYPEWRITER
* George Carruthers - X-RAY MACHINE
* George Washington Carver - PEANUT BUTTER - PAINTS PAINT STAINS ETC
* W.A. Dietz - SHOE
* Charles R. Drew - BLOOD PLASMA STORAGE SYSTEM
* Michael Harney - LANTERN
* Augustus Jackson - ICE CREAM
* H.A. Jackson - KITCHEN TABLE
* Isaac R. Johnson - BICYCLE FRAME
* John A. Johnson - WRENCH
* Frederick M. Jones - DEFROSTER - REFRIGERATION CONTROLS AIR CONDITIONER
* Jones & Long - BOTTLE CAPS
* Lewis Latimer & Nichols - ELECTIC LAMP
* John L. Love - PENCIL SHARPENER
* Tony J. Marshall - FIRE EXTINGUISHER
* Alexander Miles - ELEVATOR
* W.A. Martin - LOCK
* Garrett A. Morgan - GAS MASK - Traffic Signal
* Lydia Newman - HAIR BRUSH - Nov 15, 1898
* W.B. Purvis - FOUNTAIN PEN
* L.P. Ray - DUST PAN
* W.H. Richardson - BABY BUGGY
* G.T. Sampson - CLOTHES DRYER
* .W. Smith - LAWN SPRINKLER
* J. Standard - REFRIGERATOR
* T.W. Stewart - MOP
* Maxine Snowden - RAIN HAT - 1983
* Paul E. Williams - HELICOPTER
* Granville T. Woods - Roller Coaster
* Granville T. Woods - Telegraph Transmission Devices - Dec 2, 1884 Patents # - 308, 816 (7)
Thanks to The Black Inventors Museum P.O. Box 76128 Los Angeles , Calif. (90076) Phone (310) 859-4602)
Director : Ghanaian Mr. Hamza Salifa
Contributor of Information : SEESTAH Imahkus Nzinga Okofo
[This inspiring poem was featuring in the movie Coach Carter ]
Our Deepest Fear Is Not That We Are Inadequate, Our Deepest Fear Is That We Are Powerful Beyond Measure. It Is Our Light , Not Our Darkness That Most Frightens Us.
We Ask Ourselves, Who Am I To Be Brilliant, Gorgeous, Talented, And Fabulous ?
Actually Who Are We Not To Be ? You Are A Child Of God.
Your Playing Small Doesnt Serve The World.
There Is Nothing Enlightened About Shrinking So That Other People Wont Feel Insecure Around You.
We Are All Meant To Shine, As Children Do.
We Were Born To Make Manifest The Glory Of God That Is Within Us.
Its Not Just In Some Of Us; Its In Everyone.
And When We Let Our Own Light Shine We Unconsciously Give Other People Permission To Do The Same.
And As We Are Liberated From Our Own Fear, Our Presence Automatically Liberates Others
- Marianne Williamson -
[NOTE BEING AFRAID AND REFUSING TO GET INVOLVED WONT STOP US FROM DYING. BUT BEING AFRAID CAN PREVENT US FROM LIVING]
(Nkosi Sikeleli Africa )
God bless Africa May her glory be lifted high Hear our petitions .
God bless us, Your children God we ask You to protect our nation Intervene and end all conflicts Protect us, protect our nation, our nation.
From the blue of our heaven, From the depths of our sea, Over our eternal mountain ranges, Where the cliffs give answer.
Sounds the call to come together, And united we shall stand, Let us live and strive for freedom, In South Africa our land.
[Enoch Mankayi Sontonga]
WAKE UP !!! STAY UP !!!
[http://www.infowars.com/infowars.asx] / [gcnlive.com] Life Is A Game. Have Fun . Luke 18:17 - Isaiah 11:6