Economy of Tunisia

Economy of Tunisia
Tunis
Currency	Tunisian dinar (TND)
Statistics
GDP	$47.13 billion Nominal (2013) [1]
GDP growth	2.81% (2013) [1]
GDP per capita	$4329 (2013) [1]
GDP by sector	agriculture: 11%; industry: 35.3%; services: 53.7% (2009 est.)
Inflation (CPI)	6.04% (July 2014)[1]
Population below poverty line	15.5% (2010)[2]
Gini coefficient	36.1 (2010) [3]
Labour force	3.315 million (2013)
Labour force by occupation	agriculture: 18.3%; industry: 31.9%; services: 49.8% (2009 est.)
Unemployment	15.2% (Q1 2014)
Main industries	petroleum, mining (particularly phosphate and iron ore), tourism, textiles, footwear, agribusiness, beverages
Ease-of-doing-business rank	50th[4]
External
Exports	$17.06 billion (2013) [1]
Export goods	clothing, semi-finished goods and textiles, agricultural products, mechanical goods, phosphates and chemicals, hydrocarbons, electrical equipment
Main export partners	France 26.3%  Italy 16.0%  Germany 9.4%  Libya 7.9%  United States 4.3% (2012 est.)[5]
Imports	$24.31 billion (2013) [1]
Import goods	textiles, machinery and equipment, hydrocarbons, chemicals, foodstuffs
Main import partners	France 20.2%  Italy 16.9%  Germany 7.5%  China 6.1%  Spain 5.4%  Algeria 4.4% (2012 est.) [6]
FDI stock	$31.86 billion (31 December 2009 est.)
Gross external debt	$20.13 billion (2012) [1]
Public finances
Public debt	44.32% of GDP (2012) [1]
Revenues	$10.05 billion (2009 est.)
Expenses	$16.22 billion (2012) [1]
Credit rating	Standard & Poor's:[7] BBB (Domestic) BBB- (Foreign) BBB (T&C Assessment) Outlook: Negative[8] Moody's:[8] Baa3 Outlook: Negative Fitch:[8] BBB Outlook: Negative
Foreign reserves	US$9.269 billion (April 2011)[9]
Main data source: CIA World Fact Book All values, unless otherwise stated, are in US dollars.

Tunisia is in the process of economic reform and liberalization after decades of heavy state direction and participation in the economy. Prudent economic and fiscal planning have resulted in moderate but sustained growth for over a decade. Tunisia's economic growth historically has depended on oil, phosphates, agri-food products, car parts manufacturing, and tourism. In the World Economic Forum 2008/2009 Global Competitiveness Report, the country ranks first in Africa and 36th globally for economic competitiveness, well ahead of Portugal (43), Italy (49) and Greece (67).^[10] With a GDP (PPP) per capita of $9795 Tunisia is among the wealthiest countries in Africa. Based on HDI, Tunisia ranks 5th in Africa.

Historical trend

Current GDP per capita soared by more than 380% in the Seventies (1970–1980: USD 280–1,369). But this proved unsustainable and it collapsed to a cumulative 10% growth in the turbulent Eighties (1980–1990: USD 1,369–1,507), rising again to almost 50% cumulative growth in the Nineties (1990–2000: USD 1,507–2,245), signifying the impact of successful diversification.^[11]

Growing foreign debt and the foreign exchange crisis in the mid-1980s. In 1986, the government launched a structural adjustment program to liberalize prices, reduce tariffs, and reorient Tunisia toward a market economy.

Olive grove in Sfax, Tunisia

Tunisia's economic reform program has been lauded as a model by international financial institutions. The government has liberalized prices, reduced tariffs, lowered debt-service-to-exports and debt-to-GDP ratios, and extended the average maturity of its $10 billion foreign debt. Structural adjustment brought additional lending from the World Bank and other Western creditors. In 1990, Tunisia acceded to the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) and is a member of the World Trade Organization (WTO).

In 1996 Tunisia entered into an "Association Agreement" with the European Union (EU) which removes tariff and other trade barriers on most goods by 2008. In conjunction with the Association Agreement, the EU is assisting the Tunisian government's Mise A Niveau (upgrading) program to enhance the productivity of Tunisian businesses and prepare for competition in the global marketplace.

The government has totally or partially privatized around 160 state-owned enterprises since the privatization program was launched in 1987. Although the program is supported by the GATT, the government has had to move carefully to avoid mass firings. Unemployment continues to plague Tunisia's economy and is aggravated by a rapidly growing work force. An estimated 55% of the population is under the age of 25. Officially, 15.2% of the Tunisian work force is unemployed.

In 2011, after the Arab Spring, the economy slumped but then recovered with a 2.81% GDP growth in 2014. However, unemployment is still one of the major issues with 15.2% of the labor force unemployed as of the first quarter of 2014. Tunisia’s political transition gained new momentum in early 2014, with the resolution of a political deadlock, the adoption of a new Constitution and the appointment of a new government. The national dialogue platform, brokered by key civil society organizations, played a crucial role in gathering all major political parties.This consensus will allow for further reform in the economy and public sector.

External trade and investment

Tunisian exports in 2006

In 1992, Tunisia re-entered the private international capital market for the first time in 6 years, securing a $10-million line of credit for balance-of-payments support. In January 2003 Standard & Poor's affirmed its investment grade credit ratings for Tunisia. The World Economic Forum 2002-03 ranked Tunisia 34th in the Global Competitiveness Index Ratings (two places behind South Africa, the continent's leader). In April 2002, Tunisia's first US dollar-denominated sovereign bond issue since 1997 raised $458 million, with maturity in 2012.

The Bourse de Tunis is under the control of the state-run Financial Market Council and lists over 50 companies. The government offers substantial tax incentives to encourage companies to join the exchange, and expansion is occurring.

The Tunisian government adopted a unified investment code in 1993 to attract foreign capital. More than 1,600 export-oriented joint venture firms operate in Tunisia to take advantage of relatively low labor costs and preferential access to nearby European markets. Economic links are closest with European countries, which dominate Tunisia's trade. Tunisia's currency, the dinar, is not traded outside Tunisia. However, partial convertibility exists for bonafide commercial and investment transaction. Certain restrictions still limit operations carried out by Tunisian residents.

The stock market capitalisation of listed companies in Tunisia was valued at $5.3 Billion in 2007, 15% of 2007 GDP, by the World Bank.

For 2007, foreign direct investment totaled TN Dinar 2 billion in 2007, or 5.18% of the total volume of investment in the country. This figure is up 35.7% from 2006 and includes 271 new foreign enterprises and the expansion of 222 others already based in the country.

The economic growth rate seen for 2007, at 6.3% is the highest achieved in a decade.

Loan Guarantee^[12]

On April 20, 2012, U.S. Treasury Secretary ^[13] and Tunisian Finance Minister Houcine Dimassi signed a declaration of intent^[14] to move forward on a U.S. loan guarantee for Tunisia. The U.S. Government would provide this loan guarantee to enable the Tunisian government to access significant market financing at affordable rates and favorable maturities with the backing of a U.S. guarantee of principal and interest (up to 100 percent).

The support would consist of the U.S. guarantee of Tunisian government-issued debt (or of bank loans made to the Government of Tunisia). This guarantee will significantly reduce the Tunisian government's borrowing costs at a time when market access has become more expensive for many emerging market countries. In the weeks ahead, both governments intend to make progress on a loan guarantee agreement that would allow Tunisia to move forward with a debt issuance.

The ceremony took place at the World Bank immediately following the meeting of Finance Ministers of the Deauville Partnership with Arab Countries in Transition.

Electricity

• Production: 16.13 Billion kWh (2011)^[15]
• Production by source:
  • fossil fuel: 96.8% (2010)
  • hydro: 1.7% (2010)
  • other: 1.5% (2010)
• Consumption: 13.29 billion kWh (2010)
• Exports: None (2010)
• Imports: 19 million kWh (2010)

Agriculture

Agriculture - products: olives, grain, tomatoes, citrus fruit, sugar beets, dates, almonds,

See also

• Tunisia
• Economy of Africa
• List of companies based in Tunisia

References

External links

• Historic Growth Trend of Tunisia’s Economy, 1962 – 2007
• Economy of Tunisia at DMOZ
• Economy of Tunisia extracted from the CIA factbook public data