Visit of Hatem Ferjani, Secretary of State to the Minister of Foreign Affairs in charge of Economic Diplomacy

Visit of Hatem Ferjani, Secretary of State to the Minister of Foreign Affairs in charge of Economic Diplomacy

On the 10th of April 2019, the TBC Dubai & Northern Emirates and the TBC Abu Dhabi received, in Dubai, Hatem Ferjani, Secretary of State to the Minister of Foreign Affairs in charge of Economic Diplomacy.

Attendees:
– H.E. Hatem Ferjani: Secretary of State to the Minister of Foreign Affairs in charge of Economic Diplomacy
– H.E. Samir Manser: Ambassador of the Republic of Tunisia to UAE
– Mr. Walid Hajjam: Deputy ambassador
– Mr. Sami Hassan: Director Trade Office, Embassy of the Republic of Tunisia to UAE (CEPEX)
– Mrs. Ines Monastiri: Office Manager – Gulf Region, FIPA
– Mr. Mohamed Damak: President of TBC Abu Dhabi
– Mr. Fathi Ben Grira: President of TBC Dubai & Northern Emirates
– Mrs. Olfa Abidi: Vice-President of TBC Dubai & Northern Emirates
– Mr. Mohamed Kaabi: Secretary General of TBC Dubai & Northern Emirates
– Mr. Brahim Ben Ammar: Member of the Senior Advisory Board, TBC Dubai & Northern Emirates

Discussion points:

– Introduction by H.E. Samir Mancer
– Presentation by H.E. Hatem Ferjani

  • on his role, mission and the importance of economic diplomacy in the strategy of the Tunisian government.
  • on the respective roles and governance mechanisms between the different entities promoting the Tunisian economy (CEPEX, FIPA and ONTT, notably).
  • update on various meetings held in the UAE with local authorities and investors.
  • update about the Arab League Summit recently held in Tunis.
  • update about the increasing Chinese investments in Tunisia.
  • on the investment forum to be held in Tunisia on the 21st and 22nd of June 2019.

– Discussion points raised by the other attendees.

  • channels of collaboration between the Tunisian Business Councils in the UAE and UTICA.
  • challenges faced by foreign investors in Tunisia and recommendations to tackle these issues.
  • strategy to increase bilateral investments (“both ways”) between Tunisia and UAE (for example, invitation of UAE based free zones authorities for a roadshow in Tunisia with UTICA, invitation of Tunisian banks for a roadshow in UAE to establish relationships with their UAE counterparts).
  • need for economic diplomacy targeting the UAE based regional headquarters of multinationals having operations in Tunisia with an aim to increase their direct investments.
  • strategy with respect to Expo 2020.

Immediate deliverables:

  • Formal introduction by H.E. Hatem Ferjani between the Tunisian Business Councils in the UAE and Mr. Samir Majoul, President of UTICA in order to facilitate cooperation between the different stakeholders.
  • The Tunisian Business Councils in the UAE shall organize a gathering for their members with CEPEX presenting the Tunisian strategy for Expo 2020.

Organization of a Tunisian Investment Forum in the UAE in 2019 (preliminary contacts have already been made to that effect with H.E. Sultan Bin Saeed Al Mansoori, Minister of Economy in the UAE).