Tunisia Says Seeking Partners for $3.2 Bln of Projects

Tunisia's President Kais Saied (center) poses for a group photo with OIF's Sec. Gen. Louise Mushikiwabo, French President Macron, Cote d'Ivoire's President Ouattara, Canada's PM Trudeau, and other officials and leaders of French-speaking countries, at the 18th Francophonie Summit in Djerba, Tunisia November 19, 2022. via REUTERS - TUNISIAN PRESIDENCY
Tunisia's President Kais Saied (center) poses for a group photo with OIF's Sec. Gen. Louise Mushikiwabo, French President Macron, Cote d'Ivoire's President Ouattara, Canada's PM Trudeau, and other officials and leaders of French-speaking countries, at the 18th Francophonie Summit in Djerba, Tunisia November 19, 2022. via REUTERS - TUNISIAN PRESIDENCY
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Tunisia Says Seeking Partners for $3.2 Bln of Projects

Tunisia's President Kais Saied (center) poses for a group photo with OIF's Sec. Gen. Louise Mushikiwabo, French President Macron, Cote d'Ivoire's President Ouattara, Canada's PM Trudeau, and other officials and leaders of French-speaking countries, at the 18th Francophonie Summit in Djerba, Tunisia November 19, 2022. via REUTERS - TUNISIAN PRESIDENCY
Tunisia's President Kais Saied (center) poses for a group photo with OIF's Sec. Gen. Louise Mushikiwabo, French President Macron, Cote d'Ivoire's President Ouattara, Canada's PM Trudeau, and other officials and leaders of French-speaking countries, at the 18th Francophonie Summit in Djerba, Tunisia November 19, 2022. via REUTERS - TUNISIAN PRESIDENCY

Tunisia is seeking international partners for investment projects worth 10 billion Tunisian dinars ($3.2 billion), economy minister Samir Saied said on Saturday at a summit of leaders of French-speaking countries it is hosting.

Saied also signed a $200 million financing agreement with France that will help support the North African country's budget, according to the ministry's Facebook account.

Tunisian President Kais Saied and French President Emmanuel Macron are among Francophonie group leaders meeting on the island of Djerba on Saturday and Sunday.

The two-day summit is the first gathering of the International Organization of Francophonie in three years following pandemic lockdowns and travel restrictions.



UAE, Serbia Sign Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement

UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić. WAM
UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić. WAM
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UAE, Serbia Sign Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement

UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić. WAM
UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić. WAM

UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić have witnessed the exchange of a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA), paving the way for increased trade and investment flows and bilateral private sector collaboration.

Sheikh Mohamed commended the exchange of the CEPA as a key milestone in the relations between the UAE and Serbia.

“The CEPA exchange with Serbia is a notable step forward in our efforts to create a network of trade agreements that will accelerate investment, promote knowledge-sharing, and create opportunities for joint ventures in high-growth sectors,” he said.

“Serbia represents an important addition to the CEPA program and a bridge into the high-potential region of Eastern Europe. The UAE-Serbia CEPA reflects our shared ambition to establish a new era of collaboration between our nations and unlock long-term, sustainable growth for both our economies.”

The Serbian President expressed confidence that the agreement would pave the way for new opportunities in economic cooperation and diversification, fostering sustainable growth and prosperity for both nations.

Once implemented, the UAE-Serbia CEPA is expected to remove or reduce duties on product lines, lift unnecessary barriers to trade, protect intellectual property rights, support small and medium-sized companies, and facilitate mutual investment flows.

The UAE is the third-largest market for Serbian exports in the Middle East, and increased FDI has been directed toward high-priority sectors, including renewable energy, agriculture, food security, infrastructure, and logistics.