Tunis — The Ministry of Environment and Sustainable Development is organizing in cooperation with the "Société des Foires Internationales de Tunis" from November 12 to 14 2009, the second environmental investment and employment forum, "Green Ifriqya 2009â-' at the El Kram Exhibition Hall, north of Tunis.

Targeting mostly African and Arab markets, the forum aims at fostering business partnerships in the environmental sector.

The event will also host 4 other events such as the international exhibition of environmental technologies in which 150 foreign companies will take part, 16 seminars on environmental topics related to renewable energy, sanitation, a business meeting with the participation of several engineers, businessmen and specialists in the sector, besides holding a carbon market to enable African countries to sell their quotas to reduce emissions of greenhouse gas emissions to industrialized countries namely Germany.

Investment in the environment sector has steadily increased in recent years in Tunisia, thanks to the country's incentives to create jobs, particularly for university graduates.

The environmental investment and improvement of legislative and institutional framework represent 1.2% of the country's GDP. The environmental investment is divided between public investment (new wastewater treatment units, waste management units) and private investment (creating of waste recycling units, industrial solar panels).

This investment has increased by 90% over the last 15 years through the creation of new businesses operating in the environment sector.

These companies have achieved a significant turnover especially as the management system of plastic waste, their recycling and exports have helped generate foreign exchange inflows.

It is expected that some 200 Tunisian and foreign enterprises will take part in the Forum which is due to attract well as 7000 visitors, including professionals and visitors.