SFAX FACTS: TUNISIA'S BUSINESS CAPITAL WANTS

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 TUNIS 000591 SIPDIS SIPDIS NEA/MAG FOR HOPKINS AND HARRIS, EB/CBA (WINSTEAD),ECA, NEA/PPD (FERNANDEZ AGNEW) STATE PASS USTR (BELL),USPTO (ADLIN),USAID (MCCLOUD) USDOC FOR ITA/MAC/ONE (NATE MASON),ADVOCACY CTR (JAMES), AND CLDP (TEJTEL) CASABLANCA FOR (FCS ORTIZ) E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: EAID ECON ETRD KPAO SCUL TS SUBJECT: SFAX FACTS: TUNISIA'S BUSINESS CAPITAL WANTS GREATER COLLABORATION WITH THE UNITED STATES -------------- Summary -------------- ¶1. Ambassador conducted a familiarization tour of the southern governorate, and second largest city, Sfax from April 4-8. The visit included economic/commercial, public affairs, and humanitarian components. Interlocutors at every stop pressed for increased collaboration and assistance from the USG, including branch offices for AMIDEAST (English language programs) and TACC (Tunisian American Chamber of Commerce),biotechnology and university linkages, and trade delegations from US business and government officials. The Sfax governorate aggressively seeks the attention that its citizens believe Tunisia's economic, industrial, and agricultural hub should command. Sfaxians with whom the Ambassador met were supportive of a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with the United States. Many also made the case that Sfax represents an ideal base for US companies wishing to do business in the region --- especially with Libya. The Embassy is following up on the visit by considering ways to increase interaction with Sfax, including the possible creation of a Virtual Presence Post. We are also working with AMIDEAST and TACC to encourage establishment of branch offices. End summary. -------------- Ready for a US/Tunisia FTA -------------- ¶2. In his meeting with the Governor of Sfax Kamel Somai, the Governor touted the Sfax governorate as: -- an agricultural center, with 6.2 million olive trees, as well as almond and pistachio cultivations. Sfax also accounts for 30 per cent of Tunisia's chicken production and 40 per cent of its egg production -- a fisheries center, with 20 per cent of the national production and 70 per cent of its fish exports -- Tunisia's industrial capital, with approximately 2400 small and medium-sized business representing all industrial fields: textiles, plastics, electric and electronic components, mechanical components, chemicals (phosphates, and oil and gas),and food processing; 80 per cent of Tunisia's energy production comes from the Sfax Governorate. -- a university center, composed of 20 higher education institutes, 25,000 students, and 2 research institutes (one olive oil research center and a biotechnology research center). ¶3. The Ambassador opined that free trade is essential to prosperity and that he was in Sfax to listen and to learn about the prospects and opportunities of the Sfax governorate. Somai replied that it was time for an FTA with the United States, and that he looked forward to developing good relations with US businesses. He cited the lack of English language capabilities among Sfaxians as the primary obstacle to attracting increased US investment to Sfax and requested USG assistance in bringing English language teaching resources to Sfax. The Ambassador mentioned that he hoped to bring an economic delegation to Tunisia. He also stated that he wanted to promote greater US/Tunisian collaboration and strengthened ties via US economic delegations and US trade missions to Tunisia and vice versa. He broached the possibility of including Sfax in the program of any such delegations. -------------- Taparura Project - Investment Opportunities -------------- ¶4. Somai said he hoped that future opportunities in urban development and tourism related construction projects, TUNIS 00000591 002 OF 003 associated with the Taparura Project, would help attract greater US investment to Sfax. Taparura is a major environmental clean-up and beach rehabilitation and urban development project currently underway along the northern coast of Sfax. What was once a toxic phospho-gypsum wasteland is envisioned to become a tourist venue with green zone parks, residential zones, an oceanographic museum, a nautical club, and an aqualand amusement park. Major roads, hotels, business convention facilities, a cruise or pleasure boat port, and an extension of the Sfax airport are also planned parts of this project. The tender for the first phase (environmental clean-up, dike construction, ground surface preparation) has been awarded to Jean de Nul Belgique-Envisan in collaboration with Somatra (a Tunisian public works company). This phase of the project is projected to be completed by the end of 2008. According to Somai, new public tenders will then be launched for the second phase -- urbanization and tourism development -- of the Taparura Project. ¶5. The Ambassador visited the project site and asked the Governor and the project leader to inform the Embassy when major tenders are about to be released. The Embassy would then notify US investors of the opportunities to participate in the Taparura and other major development projects. -------------- United States - We Want You -------------- ¶6. Throughout the visit, the Ambassador heard calls for strengthened bilateral ties, investment, and collaboration with the United States. Meetings with the Chamber of Commerce, UTICA (Employers' Union),CJD (Centre des Jeunes Dirigents - young entrepreneurs group),the University of Sfax, the Center of Biotechnology (CBS),and local businesses all reiterated common themes: Sfax has the infrastructure, educated work force facilities, stability, and location to make it an ideal base for US business operations targeted at Libya, the Maghreb, European Union, African, and/or Middle Eastern markets. Sfax seeks US investment, increased ties to the United States and to US businesses and universities, increased scientific exchanges between CBS and US Universities, US delegations to visit and explore cooperative opportunities and Sfaxian delegations to visit the United States to do likewise. Sfaxians also pressed for a branch of AMIDEAST offering English classes (particularly business and legal English),and a branch of the Tunisian American Chamber of Commerce (TACC). The President and faculty at the University of Sfax stressed their need for assistance in building the "spirit of entrepreneurship" among their students. Sfaxian businesspeople also requested US assistance both in financing imports from the United States and exports to the United States, and technical assistance. They indicated that they want to work with the Embassy to encourage collaboration and to augment trade between the United States and Tunisia. ¶7. In all of his meetings, the Ambassador expressed interest in strengthened ties with Sfax. In follow-up to his visit, he discussed the possible establishment of both TACC and AMIDEAST branch offices in Sfax with their respective directors. He said that he believed that such branch offices will permit the creation of a solid base upon which to build increased business ties between the United States and Sfax. The Ambassador told his interlocutors that he and the US Embassy team will work to encourage business and university partnerships between Sfax and United States counterparts. He pointed out that there are many avenues to exchange information and to foster strengthened relations. Specifically, the United States offers many programs and/or technical assistance that can help meet the needs of Sfax business and university entities such as the International Visitor Program, Trade Development Agency programs, the Business Facilitation Incentive Fund, Commercial Law Development Programs, USDA programs and Export/Import Bank TUNIS 00000591 003 OF 003 programs. The Ambassador also stated that he would be happy to write letters to the US Chamber of Commerce, US University presidents, and others to encourage them to visit Tunisia -- and Sfax in particular -- in order to explore collaboration and partnership possibilities. -------------- HIV/AIDS Prevention and Treatment Center -------------- ¶8. The Ambassador visited an HIV/AIDS Prevention and Treatment Center in support of Tunisia's efforts to encourage civil society participation in the promotion of HIV/AIDS awareness among youth. Construction was funded via a USD 250,000 grant from the US Department of Defense Humanitarian Assistance Program. The center will serve as a youth center for diverse social activities but will specialize in HIV/AIDS information dissemination and confidential HIV/AIDS testing. The Tunisian association for the Prevention of AIDS and Sexually Transmissible diseases in Sfax (ATL/MST/SIDA),the NGO that will be responsible for operating the center, is currently working with the Tunisian Ministry of Public Health and UNAIDS to finalize the operational plan that will enable it to open its doors to the public in the near future. During his visit, the Ambassador toured the facility and observed various HIV/AIDS youth awareness activities initiated by the association. The Ambassador presented Dr. Zahaf, Director of ATL/MST/SIDA Sfax with a plaque acknowledging the USG contribution to this project and commended the collaborative efforts of the Ministry of Public Health, ATL/MST/SIDA, and UNAIDS for the design and future successful operations of the center. The Ambassador cited the project as a true symbol of Tunisian-American cooperation. -------------- Comment -------------- ¶9. This trip provided the Ambassador with an excellent introduction to the commercial capital of Tunisia and its second largest city. We were struck by the oft-repeated mantra that Sfax is the perfect platform for US companies wishing to expand their business in the region, especially towards Libya, and Embassy's Econ/Commercial Officer will be following up on relevant leads in this regard. The Ambassador's visits to CBS, the University of Sfax, and the HIV/AIDS Center provided him with a first-hand view of the fruits of the various USG-funded technical and humanitarian assistance projects in the region. Post will follow-up on the various possibilities for additional linkages, including the possible establishment of a Virtual Presence Post and branches of TACC and AMIDEAST in Sfax. The Executive Director of TACC subsequently told Econ/Commercial Officer and P/E Counselor that TACC is moving towards establishing a branch office in Sfax. End comment. GODEC