''Continental Automotive'' Sets up in Menzel Jemil, Tunisia. Aerolia to Lay the Foundation stone in Tunisia

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1 Aerolia to Lay the Foundation stone in Tunisia On April 30 th, AEROLIA celebrated the laying of the foundation stone of a factory in Tunisia, in the form of a 100% EADS subsidiary. This site will contribute to the overall competitiveness of the company by ensuring assembly of sub-sets through the integration of a local network of subcontracting. Located within a 20 hectare aeronautics park south of the city of Tunis, this production unit will specialize in the assembly of sub-assemblies. An investment of 30 million will be implemented over five years to build this industrial unit of 10,000 square meters employing 750 employees at full capacity in 2014 Under this project, Aerolia will federate a network of partners and subcontractors in charge of industrial production of a number of parts, sheet metal, tooling, composite, logistics as well as surface treatment. Located close to Aerolia within the aeronautics Park, this network of partner companies will eventually represent 750 employment positions and reduce logistics flows while contributing to improved economic performance of the formed industrial complex. This branch was created in Tunisia as part of a strategy of Aerolia s international expansion, a company that emerged from 90 years of experience and subsidiarizing, in early 2009, Airbus activities dedicated to aerostructures and to subsets of nose cones. Source : aerolia.com ''Continental Automotive'' Sets up in Menzel Jemil, Tunisia Continental Automotive moved into the industrial area of Menzel Jemil (Northern Tunisia) for an investment of 15 million dinars. This French company is one of the largest international companies specialized in manufacturing electronic components for automobiles. The official opening took place on Tuesday, April 27 th. The project covers an area of 3,200 square meters and provides for the production of 1.5 million radios per year intended for the export market to the benefit of the French company "Renault" as well as other firms. The company currently employs 22 people and plans to increase this number by the end of the year to reach 120 employees (engineers, higher technicians and workers) and in a subsequent step the personnel is expected to reach 350 or even 400 people, mostly graduates from higher education and from sectoral training centers. The CEO of French group, Jean Marc Nozeran expressed the satisfaction of the company s executives with the encouraging climate which prevails in Tunisia, which is a major incentive for investing even more and creating new job opportunities for both Tunisian and French skills. Continental Automotive has 32 production sites and more than 80 factories spread over 46 countries. Source : TAP Agency The Japanese Yazaki to Create 5,200 Jobs by 2012 The Japanese manufacturer of automotive cables Yazaki has begun the construction of three new facilities in the region of Gafsa, in southern Tunisia. Yazaki has already launched three units in the Gafsa region specialized in the manufacture of cables for the Peugeot 207 model. This initiative proved very profitable and encouraged the Japanese Group to make new investments in Tunisia. 1

2 Currently, Yazaki is building its fourth factory in Oumlaraies near Gafsa. This unit is devoted to cables for Mercedes trucks. The construction works in the factory of Metlaoui (where the cables for Opel and Ford brands will be manufactured and assembled) will begin next June while the Redeyef site (specializing in the manufacture and assembly of cables for the first electric car in Tunisia) should be built in the fourth quarter of Yazaki has unveiled plans to create 1550 jobs by the end of 2010 and to develop its recruitment policy to reach 3,500 jobs by 2011 and 5,200 by 2012 compared to the 850 currently existing jobs. Source : Finacorp web site A Montpellier IT Service and Software Engineering Company to open in Tunis NTIC Consulting, a French company of IT Service and Software Engineering based in Montpellier, has just created a subsidiary in Tunis, called "IT Systems" and dedicated to software development. This branch, which is totally exporting and non-resident, will be run by Christophe Carolo, IT Consultant, NTIC Consulting. The Belgian group Detandt-Simon sets up in Tunisia The Belgian group Detandt-Simon Ltd has just set up in Tunisia. Founded in March 2010, the Tunisian subsidiary called DS International will be responsible for marketing photovoltaic facilities under the brand DS Solar in the Tunisian market. With 22 years experience in the field of energy, the group specializes in thermal solar energy, solar photovoltaic systems, ventilation products and flue linings. The group is active in the Italian, French, German and Dutch markets. According to Osama Labiadh engineer, head of the Tunisian subsidiary, the location of Detandt Simon responds to a desire to target the market of North Africa. "Tunisia was considered as the most developed and most interesting country, with advantages in terms of investment incentives," he says. A fund of 250 Million Euros to Encourage Italian Companies to Invest in Tunisia The Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has made available to businesses in the region of Abruzzo, a region of central Italy, a fund of 250 million euros (470 million Tunisian dinars), to encourage them to invest in Tunisia. According to the regional daily Italian Newspaper "Regione Abruzzo, the President of the Abruzzo region, Gianni Chiodi, sensitized Italian entrepreneurs on the benefits they could draw from this fund through the creation of joint ventures in Tunisia, and on the various opportunities offered as part of Tunisian-Italian partnership. Source : newspaper "Regione Abruzzo Vocational training How to best meet the needs of the company This is a new vision based rather on the economic aspect and no longer on the social one," declared Abdallah Ben Abdallah, Director General of the Tunisian Agency for Vocational Training (ATFP). On the side of the ATFP, satisfaction with the performance of the sector is lukewarm. The number of graduates from vocational training centers is currently 105,000 against 65,000 in 2006 Aerolia which recently settled in the industrial area of El M'ghira specializing in the manufacture of aerospace components has started since August 2009 a custom-made training in the ATFP for 40 people. For the current year, Mr. Ben Abdallah declared that 240 people will be trained on Aerolia s demand, including 36 on behalf of the company s subcontractor. In addition, the Director General of the ATFP said that the establishment of several companies in the inland areas requires an adaptation of the training to the needs of these companies. He announced thus the opening of a training center for textiles and clothing in Gafsa, next week where the brand Benetton already has a manufacturing unit. 2

3 In Kasserine, another center will open in June With the establishment of Yazaki Gafsa, the center has introduced new sectoral specializations to adapt the training program to the needs of the Japanese company. It should be reminded that a small ministerial council met on April 27 th, 2010, for the implementation of a plan to strengthen and upgrade the vocational training system. The enacted measures mainly concern: the introduction of cocertification of vocational training qualifications in collaboration with international organizations, the development of custom-made training programs to the benefit of economic companies and the diagnosis of the needs of interior regions in terms of training. Tunisia North Africa: A draft agreement for the establishment of a Customs Cooperation Council A draft agreement for the establishment of a Customs Cooperation Council between North African countries has just been signed. This agreement precedes a de facto customs union. In this context, different structures are constantly created. The aims of these structures range from harmonizing and standardizing laws, or agreeing on tariffs, to matching the information systems between the various branches of North African customs. These are the first steps towards the realization of a free trade zone in North Africa. Source : Webmanagercenter Tunisia European Union The Finish Line for the "Advanced Status" Eagerly anticipated by both sides, the 8th session of the EU - Tunisia Association Council held on Tuesday, May 11 th in Brussels, has yielded its first result: an agreement on "the formation of a task group in preparation of an advanced status" to be granted by the EU to Tunisia. This development was announced by the Spanish State Secretary for European Affairs Diego Lopez Garrido, whose country chairs the EU, following a meeting between the European Commissioner in charge of the Neighborhood Policy, Stefan Füle, and the Tunisian Foreign Minister, Kamel Morjane. The task group was assigned the ad hoc mission to work on a roadmap where the advanced status will focus on enhancing political dialogue, matching legislative frameworks and achieving a wide and detailed agreement on trade. ''The prospect of an advanced status reinforces the significant progress made by Tunisia in the implementation of the Association Agreement in force since 1998 and the Plan of Action of the European Neighborhood Policy,'' declared the European Union in a statement published on the eve of this meeting. Moreover, Brussels said that For the European Union, Tunisia is a strong and reliable partner with whom it develops a strong relationship based on shared values and on mutual respect and understanding.'' Source : Africanmanager Inauguration of the First Eco-friendly Hotel in Tunisia Russelior, the first eco-friendly hotel in Tunisia, Located in Yasmine Hammamet was inaugurated on the beginning of may. This new hotel unit is unique of its kind in Tunisia, all the more true as it relies on the development of environmental awareness and meets preferences of tourists who choose environment - friendly destinations This hotel unit provides high quality services and accommodation conditions. In these environmental friendly rooms, blankets and tapestries are made from biological materials. Cigarettes and alcoholic beverages are banned in this space. The hotel is located in a green park with a wide variety of flowers including the Russelia and an oasis of no less than 2000 palm trees which make it a real shelter from sun rays and a source reflecting the warmth of the country's hospitality. Source : Agence TAP 3

4 Carthage Investment Forum Program Thursday 3 rd June :00 pm - 7:30 pm Opening Ceremony chaired by H.E. Mohamed GHANNOUCHI, the Prime Minister Guest of honour: Mr. JUAN JOSÉ DABOUB, Managing Director of the World Bank Mr. Hedi DJILANI, President of the Tunisian Union of Industry, Trade and Handicraft, UTICA Chairman of the Forum: Mr. Mohamed BEN SEDRINE, Executive Board Member of the Tunisian Union of Industry, Trade and Handicrafts, UTICA. Awards ceremony 8:00 pm Cocktail reception Official opening: H.E. Mr. Mohamed GHANNOUCHI, the Prime Minister Friday 4 th June :00 am - 1:30 pm PANELS 9:00 am - 10:00 am Themes : Panel 1 TUNISIA IN THE EYES OF THE ECONOMIC COMMUNITY Tunisia s achievements in the report on global competitiveness (WEF ) Perception of Tunisia in reports covering other indicators of attractiveness (quality of life, human development...) Perception of the world bank regarding the Tunisian Economy Guest of honour : Mr. Abdelhamid TRIKI, Secretary of State to the Minister of Development and International Cooperation, in charge of International Cooperation and Foreign Investment Speakers : Mr. Chekib NOUIRA, President of The Arab Institute of Business Managers IACE- Mr. Ndiamé DIOP, World Bank representative in Tunisia. Moderator : Mr. Marouene EL ABASSI, Expert in international economics, professor at IHEC Tunis 10:00 am - 10:30 am Coffee break 10:30 am - 12:00 am Panel 2 TUNISIAN ASSETS TO ATTRACT TECHNOLOGY Themes : Infrastructure and governmental measures regarding technology in Tunisia R&D dynamics Dynamics of a growth sector in Tunisia: the mechanical, electrical, and electronical sector. Case Study: Borj Cedria Science and Technology Park Mr. Nejib KARAFI CEO of the technopark company Pr. Brahim BESSAÎS, expert in photovoltaic energy. Guest of honour : Moderator: Mr. Afif CHELBI, Minister of Industry and Technology Mr. Jelel EZZINE, General Manager of the International Cooperation Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research Mr. Bahri REZIG, General Manager of the National Agency for the Promotion of Research and Innovation ANPRI - Mr. Med LARBI ROUIS, CEO LEONI -Tunisia. Mr. Mongi HAMDI, Head of Science and Technology Department at UNCTAD. 4

5 12:00 am - 1:30 pm Themes: Panel 3 OFFSHORING IN TUNISIA: IN A SHIFTING TECHNOLOGY LANDSCAPE ICT and offshoring sectors in Tunisia Competitive position of Tunisia in offshoring The internationalisation of Tunisian computer services and engineering companies and testimonies in specific niches (BPO voice, BPO data, ITO, R&D) Guest of honour: Mr. Mohamed Naceur AMMAR, Minister of Communication Technologies Mr. Cyril GRISLAIN, Global Partner McKinsey&Co Mr. Badreddine OUAILI, CEO VERMEG Mr. Said AIDI, Managing Director HR ACCESS for Middle East and North Africa Mr. Mohamed FRIKHA, CEO TELNET Mr. Alain GUETTAF, General Manager PRO2C Moderator: 1:30 pm - 3:00 pm Lunch 3:00 pm - 7:00 pm B2B MULTISECTORAL MEETINGS Mr. Mohamed ENNABLI, Chairman of the High Level Committee of Science and Technology Saturday 5 th June, :00 am Further multi sectoral B2B meetings Sponsors of the Carthage Investment Forum 2010 Media Partner Official Transporter 5