Energising Tunisian-German partnership in the wake of Revolution

The Tunisian-German Chamber of Industry and Commerce (AHK) announced on Tuesday, during its 32nd general assembly, adherence of 50 new enterprises, after the January 14 Revolution. Actually, the number of AHK members stands at 600, 58% of which are Tunisian enterprises, 22% are German, 17% are joint ventures and 3% are foreign firms. According to  Mrs. Dagmar Ossenbrink, AHK Director-General, 2010 had been "a good year for German enterprises," pointing out that in view of Tunisia's current situation, the Chamber had organised jointly with Tunisian and German partners a promotional campaign in 12 German cities, notably Bremen, Bochum, Stuttgart, Munich, Berlin and Cologne. The campaign, aimed to introduce "New Tunisia," the opportunities and prospects offered to German enterprises, after the Revolution, "drew the interest of potential investors to Tunisia, which is an access gate to the other Maghreb countries and the African continent," Mrs. Ossenbrink specified. She said that AHK had launched a call to support the assistance project to the regional follow-up committee of the damage in Menzel Bouzayane, Sidi Bouzid governorate, one of the region's most affected town by events during the Revolution. The target is to enhance comprehensive development, create jobs and stabilise the region. Besides, she pointed out that according to a survey conducted by AHK on the German exporting enterprises' situation and prospects for 2010-2011, the first trends show a positive development in exports (over 70%) and that 77% of the questioned enterprises estimate that business development in Tunisia has been satisfactory. For his part, AHK-Tunisia Chairman Ferdinand Terbug said that "Tunisia is in a transition to democracy and we should support it." Mr. Michael Fernau, representative of the German Embassy in Tunis, pointed up that "the German enterprises remained faithful to Tunisia, in spite of the problems and events the country has been living through," adding that "these enterprises are reasoning on the long term." During this general assembly, Mr. Raouf Ben Debba, "Conecta Tunisie" Director-General, was elected as AHK Chairman. It is worth reminding that AHK has been operating in Tunisia for 30 years, providing guidance to German or partly German investments. Germany is Tunisia's third economic partners, after France and Italy.