Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06TUNIS845
2006-04-10 11:27:00
CONFIDENTIAL//NOFORN
Embassy Tunis
Cable title:
RUSSO-TUNISIAN BUSINESS COUNCIL CREATED
how-toVZCZCXYZ0009 PP RUEHWEB DE RUEHTU #0845 1001127 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 101127Z APR 06 FM AMEMBASSY TUNIS TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 0390 INFO RUEHAS/AMEMBASSY ALGIERS PRIORITY 7193 RUEHMO/AMEMBASSY MOSCOW PRIORITY 0350 RUEHNK/AMEMBASSY NOUAKCHOTT PRIORITY 0773 RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS PRIORITY 1566 RUEHRB/AMEMBASSY RABAT PRIORITY 8129 RUEHRO/AMEMBASSY ROME PRIORITY 0688 RUEHCL/AMCONSUL CASABLANCA PRIORITY 3962 RHEBAAA/DEPT OF ENERGY WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY RUCPDOC/USDOC WASHDC PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L TUNIS 000845
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR NEA/MAG - LAWRENCE
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/31/2016
TAGS: ECON PREL ENRG RU TS
SUBJECT: RUSSO-TUNISIAN BUSINESS COUNCIL CREATED
REF: 05 TUNIS 2433
Classified By: Ambassador William J. Hudson; Reasons 1.4 (b),(d)
C O N F I D E N T I A L TUNIS 000845
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR NEA/MAG - LAWRENCE
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/31/2016
TAGS: ECON PREL ENRG RU TS
SUBJECT: RUSSO-TUNISIAN BUSINESS COUNCIL CREATED
REF: 05 TUNIS 2433
Classified By: Ambassador William J. Hudson; Reasons 1.4 (b),(d)
1. (SBU) Russian (and local) media reported March 27 on the
establishment of a Russo-Tunisian Business Council during a
Tunisian delegation's visit March 23-26 that included
Tunisian Minister of Tourism Tijani Haddad. The council's
creation was described as part of a broader Russian push to
reinforce business contacts with the Arab world. Mohamed
Sahraoui, vice-president of the Tunisian Union of Industry,
Trade and Crafts (UTICA) represented Tunisia in establishing
the council. According to press reports, Russia has also
recently created similar councils with nine other Arab
countries.
2. (SBU) The first council meeting will reportedly be held in
Tunisia, though no date has been set. Tunisia currently runs
a significant trade deficit with Russia: its exports to
Russia (olive oil, zinc, and dates) were USD 10 million in
2005, compared to Russian exports to Tunisia (petroleum,
metals, and grains) of USD 357 million. That said, Tunisian
sales to Russia are growing quickly, doubling since 2004.
The GOT also hopes to expand the number of Russian visitors
to Tunisia each year (approximately 100,000) and increase the
number of Tunisian students in Russia for advanced medical
and pharmaceutical studies (almost 700).
3. (SBU) Members of Tunisia's Center of Young Business
Leaders, including its President Abdelaziz Darghouth, are
skeptical of such initiatives as amounting to much. "We are
strongly interested in expanding our trade relations with the
U.S. This council with Russia is just a ceremony that is not
expected to do much."
Comment
--------------
3. (C) Tunisia trades predominately with the EU
(approximately 80 percent of both imports and exports),but
the formation of a Russo-Tunisian business council offers
some evidence of a more concerted effort to diversify.
Earlier this year, the Italian ambassador informed Ambassador
that Tunisian President Ben Ali had told visiting Italian PM
Silvio Berlusconi (in December 2005) that investing so
heavily in the EU relationship had been a "mistake" and that
Tunisia was now "actively pursuing alternative markets," in
Russia and China. Tunisia has been hard hit by growing energy
prices and faces mounting employment issues over the medium
term. It is increasingly seen attempting to enhance or
develop economic opportunities (including with Iran and
China),as well as this new linkage with Russia.
HUDSON
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR NEA/MAG - LAWRENCE
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/31/2016
TAGS: ECON PREL ENRG RU TS
SUBJECT: RUSSO-TUNISIAN BUSINESS COUNCIL CREATED
REF: 05 TUNIS 2433
Classified By: Ambassador William J. Hudson; Reasons 1.4 (b),(d)
1. (SBU) Russian (and local) media reported March 27 on the
establishment of a Russo-Tunisian Business Council during a
Tunisian delegation's visit March 23-26 that included
Tunisian Minister of Tourism Tijani Haddad. The council's
creation was described as part of a broader Russian push to
reinforce business contacts with the Arab world. Mohamed
Sahraoui, vice-president of the Tunisian Union of Industry,
Trade and Crafts (UTICA) represented Tunisia in establishing
the council. According to press reports, Russia has also
recently created similar councils with nine other Arab
countries.
2. (SBU) The first council meeting will reportedly be held in
Tunisia, though no date has been set. Tunisia currently runs
a significant trade deficit with Russia: its exports to
Russia (olive oil, zinc, and dates) were USD 10 million in
2005, compared to Russian exports to Tunisia (petroleum,
metals, and grains) of USD 357 million. That said, Tunisian
sales to Russia are growing quickly, doubling since 2004.
The GOT also hopes to expand the number of Russian visitors
to Tunisia each year (approximately 100,000) and increase the
number of Tunisian students in Russia for advanced medical
and pharmaceutical studies (almost 700).
3. (SBU) Members of Tunisia's Center of Young Business
Leaders, including its President Abdelaziz Darghouth, are
skeptical of such initiatives as amounting to much. "We are
strongly interested in expanding our trade relations with the
U.S. This council with Russia is just a ceremony that is not
expected to do much."
Comment
--------------
3. (C) Tunisia trades predominately with the EU
(approximately 80 percent of both imports and exports),but
the formation of a Russo-Tunisian business council offers
some evidence of a more concerted effort to diversify.
Earlier this year, the Italian ambassador informed Ambassador
that Tunisian President Ben Ali had told visiting Italian PM
Silvio Berlusconi (in December 2005) that investing so
heavily in the EU relationship had been a "mistake" and that
Tunisia was now "actively pursuing alternative markets," in
Russia and China. Tunisia has been hard hit by growing energy
prices and faces mounting employment issues over the medium
term. It is increasingly seen attempting to enhance or
develop economic opportunities (including with Iran and
China),as well as this new linkage with Russia.
HUDSON