Month: August 2018

Tunisia: phosphate production increases by 10 thousand tons Q2 2018

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Phosphate production hasincreased by ten thousand tons in the second quarter of 2018, compared to the same period of 2017, said Hachem Hmidi, Secretary of State for the Minister of Energy, responsible for Mines. This production should reach 4.5 million tons by the end of 2018, he estimated, predicting that the domestic phosphate production will double with the launch of three new public projects. Among these projects is the one in Meknassi (Sidi Bouzid governorate) which will start in a few weeks, with an estimated initial production capacity of 500,000…

Alternative tourism in Tunisia, Off the beaten tourist track

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Demand for the classic Tunisian beach package holiday has slumped as a result of unrest in the wake of the Arab Spring and direct attacks on foreign tourists in recent years. Nevertheless, a small but growing number of local entrepreneurs are pursuing alternatives to the all-inclusive cheap deal, offering experiences that bring visitors closer to the country and its people – and that are kinder to the environment. By Madeleine Löning. Tunisia. Most holidaymakers associate the small north African country with sun, sand, sea and massive, characterless hotels. But the…

40 migrants refused by Malta, Italy land in Tunisia; EU sends Morocco funds to help halt migration

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Forty migrants have disembarked at the southern Tunisian port of Zarzis after they were stranded for more than two weeks at sea waiting for permission to dock from Tunisian authorities. Ali Hajji, captain of the Sarost 5 boat, told The Associated Press Wednesday “this is a great relief for everyone.” He said two pregnant women have been taken to the hospital, and the Tunisian Red Crescent will take care of other migrants at a shelter in the town of Medenine. The migrants reportedly were at sea in the Mediterranean for…

Tunisia Is Showing Democracy Can Work in the Arab World

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While violent civil conflicts have prevailed elsewhere in the Middle East since the Arab Spring of 2011, Tunisia has pursued a transition to democracy without bloodshed. In 2014, the country made massive strides, adopting a new constitution, and then holding its first full parliamentary and presidential elections under that constitution. As with any young democracy, Tunisia’s government continues to face daunting tasks. At the top of the government’s to-do list are revitalizing the economy and building the public’s confidence in a fledgling democracy. That’s a tall order, and government leaders…

THOMAS COOK: HEATWAVE HITS PROFITS AS UK HOLIDAYMAKERS STAY AT HOME

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The heatwave has hit profits at Thomas Cook. In its third-quarter trading statement, the giant tour operator said that gross profits had slipped by 3 per cent for the three months from April to June. “We expect full-year profits to be at the lower end of market expectations, said the chief executive, Peter Fankhauser. Warm weather has delayed decisions to book. he said. “The heatwave has meant there are more holidays for tour operators to sell in the lates market.  “We still have about 20 per cent [of summer package holidays]…

Rebranding Tunisia: A Playground For The Fashion-Savvy Arab Millennial

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“As Arabs, we suffer from the same stigmas – we’re either seen as terrorists or cash machines who have no taste or culture,” says Sofia Guellaty, founder of online magazine Mille World. Guellaty previously worked as an editor for Style.com/Arabia and Vogue Arabia out of Dubai. Upon returning to her native Tunisia, she came up with the idea of building a tailor-made media brand that would serve as an accurate representation of young Arab voices. “Some of us like skateboarding, some of us are into rap. Being Arab is complex…

Tunisia foreign investments up 17.7 pct in H1

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Foreign investments in Tunisia jumped by 17.7 % in the first half of this year, Tunisian Minister of Investment and International Cooperation Zied Laadhari said on Tuesday. “The government is currently promoting investment potentials in different regions of the country,” said Laadhari. “Nowadays, it will be necessary to achieve equal opportunity for development in all regions of the country,” the official said. Laadhari announced that a high-level global conference, to be held in Tunis in September, will unveil over 20 public-private partnership projects. He recalled that “the regional development program…