Tunis — The industrial situation was marked in late February 2011 by a rise in exports and investment incentives in the sector on the one hand and a fall in the pace of business creation and adherence to the National Upgrading Programme on the other one.

According to data published by the Ministry of Industry and Technologies, industrial exports reached 3,079 million dinars (MTD), i.e. a rise of 9% compared to the same period of 2010.

This rise is due essentially to the 18% increase of exports of mechanical and electrical industries and the 20% increase in chemical industries', reaching respectively 1,314 MTD and 363 MTD.

However, the textile and clothing sector has posted a "rather limited" decline in its exports by 3%, reaching 822 MTD by late February 2011 compared with 850 MTD in the same period of 2010.

As to investment intents announced in the sector during the first half of 2011, they posted a growth of nearly 10% reaching 460 MTD. They would generate over 10,000 additional jobs in industry.

Some 150 declared projects have been recorded in regional development regions.

These projects account for 58% of all investment intents (270 MTD) and should generate over 10,000 additional jobs in these regions.

Large-scale projects declared in these regions include a paper processing unit in Jendouba, a tomato canning plant and a dairy plant in Sidi Bouzid.

Yet, incorporation was down 8.8% in the first two months of 2011. Thus, 1,617 compared were formed compared with 1,773 in the same period of 2010.

Regarding progress of the National Upgrading Programme, 80 more companies have joined this programme, compared with 101 in the same period of 2010, i.e. a fall by 18%.

Source: TAP