Tunisia, Canada Eye Bilateral Agreement On Investment Incentive

Tunis/Tunisia —
Minister of Foreign Affairs Khemaies Jhinaoui and Canadian International
Minister of Trade François-Philippe Champagne agreed at a meeting in
Ottawa to bring together experts from both countries to resume
negotiations for a bilateral agreement on encouraging and protecting
investment, Foreign Affairs Department said in a statement.

The two countries
also agreed at a two-day visit of Tunisia’s Minister of Foreign Affairs
to Canada to build a strategic partnership in innovative high
value-added areas, such as artificial intelligence, new technologies,
higher education, scientific research and tourism.

They also expressed
their agreement to continue consultations and co-ordination on issues
of mutual interest, bilaterally at the regional and international levels
and continued mutual support for the two countries’ nominations to the
United Nations, different international and regional organisations and
its various other structures and agencies.

Jhinaoui emphasised
in his meeting with the Canadian Minister of International Trade that
Tunisia “has the right foundations, human resources and high skills to
become a trade and investment hub in the Middle East and Africa.”

On the occasion of
the visit, the two parties announced the financing of two projects in
the field of local governance, the participation of women in municipal
action and that of security and border control for an amount of $ 8.6
million.

According to the
statement, members of the Canadian government issued a statement at the
end of the meeting of the Minister of Foreign Affairs, reaffirming their
continued support for Tunisia “in order to meet the economic challenges
imposed by the democratic transition phase after the revolution”.

In his talks with
Canadian officials, businessmen and officials of economic support
structures in Tunisia, Jhinaoui emphasised the privileges and incentives
decided by Tunisia for investors in various sectors, highlighting the
improvement of economic indicators and infrastructures.

The participants
expressed for their part “their admiration at the unique Tunisian
experience in the region and the world” and their willingness to examine
the possibilities of co-operation, exchange and partnership with
Tunisia, added the statement.

During his visit,
Jhinaoui met with his counterpart Chrystia Freeland, Minister of
International Development and Francophonie, Marie-Claude Bibeau and
Minister of International Trade François-Philippe Champagne and the
Speakers of both Houses of Parliament.

Jhinaoui reviewed
during these talks the political, economic and security situation in
Tunisia, as well as the achievements made in consolidating democracy,
constitutional institutions and individual and collective freedoms.

He also spoke of Tunisia’s preparations to host the summit of the international organisation of La Francophonie in 2020.