TUNISIA - Mohammed Nouri Jouini.

The Minister of Development & International Co-operation since August 2003, Jouini was interviewed on various issues by MEED and this was issued on June 24, 2005. Not much has changed since then. On economic development, Jouini said it was Tunisia's aim to continue to integrate into the world economy. He added: "When investors come to Tunisia they find an integrated economy where they don't have barriers to trade or to movement of capital. In 2008, we are removing EU customs duties on all manufacturing, and we are in the preliminary round of discussions regarding the removal of barriers to trade in services... We are committed to applying international standards. The business environment is becoming closer and closer to that which exists in more developed countries...

"Exports will always be the engine for growth, and will continue within the liberal framework put in place 10 years ago (1985) for export-oriented activities. We are working to reduce the gap between offshore and onshore activities, and we are maintaining the 10-year tax-break system. Even if this changes in the future, export-oriented industries will maintain their strong position".

On government priorities, Jouini said: "...First, improving the education and training system in partnership with the private sector, so that it better meets the human resource needs of the economy. We cannot compete with mass producers such as China on labour costs, but we are providing training to help us find niches in specific areas, such as the agri-business, electronics and service sectors. Second, the development of infrastructure. These two priorities will be pursued within...a market-based economy open to the rest of the world.

"We are committed to co-operation with the private sector. The role of the state is being transformed to concentrate on human resources and education, leaving the private sector to manage more profitable sectors such as infrastructure. The most important thing is reducing to a minimum level the difference between national and foreign companies" (see background in down16TunisWhoApr17-06).