Media Release on the South African-Tunisian Business Forum, Johannesburg and Cape Town, 25-28 February 2002

Trade and Investment Minister Alec Erwin co-chaired the Second Session of the South African-Tunisian Business Forum with the Tunisian Trade Minister, Tahar Sioud, which was held in Johannesburg on Monday, 25 and Tuesday, 26 February 2002 at the Johannesburg Country Club in Auckland Park, after which the delegation departed for Cape Town on 27 February, where the second half of the Business Forum was hosted by the Cape Town Chamber of Commerce on Thursday, 28 February 2002.

The first South African-Tunisian Business Forum was held in Tunis during April 2001, as part of the 3rd session of the Joint Bilateral Commission between South Africa and Tunisia. The Business Forum was created with a view to increasing the volume of trade between the two countries and establishing mutually beneficial business relations.

The Tunisian delegation was represented by some of the largest and most prominent companies in Tunisia, e.g. Aquatec Tunisia, Batam, Cotip, Hamrouni Group, ICF, International Trade SCIT, Jancel, Khalfallah Establishments, Loukil Group, Mad, Maklada, MBG Profilage, Moncef Barcous Establishments, Pouline, Sfax Huile and Sotacib.

Since official relations between the countries were established, there has been a marked increase in trade from R 8 million in 1993 to more than R 71 million in 2001. However, the potential exists for these volumes and interactions between countries to be increased further.

Various projects were identified during the interactions between the two delegations.

The Business Forum was successfully concluded today in Cape Town at the Chamber of Commerce. The Minutes of the previous meeting between Minister Alec Erwin and his Tunisian counterpart Minister Tahar Sioud were signed today.

An agreement between South Africa and Tunisia on the Promotion and Reciprocal Protection of Investments was also signed in Cape Town today.

Issued by the Department of Foreign Affairs
Private Bag X152
Pretoria
0001
28 February 2002