Year: 2018

Thomas Cook Holidays: Sales boost for Turkey, Egypt and Tunisia this summer

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THOMAS Cook has released their new summer destination report which highlights Turkey and Egypt as popular destinations. After resuming flights to Tunisia in February, holiday bookings to the country are also on the rise. British holidaymakers are returning to popular North Africa and Eastern Mediterranean destinations according to the new Thomas Cook 2018 holiday report. Both Turkey and Egypt have seen a rise in bookings compared to last summer. The report stated that package holiday bookings to Turkey are currently up by 84 per cent while Egypt bookings have increased by 89…

Arabsat participates in Arab Radio and Television Festival

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ARABSAT is sponsoring and participating in the 19th Arab Radio and Television Festival, which will be held from 26th-29th April 2018 in Tunis, in the presence of a number of media professionals in the Middle East and North Africa region. Speaking about the company’s longstanding relationship with the Arab States Broadcasting Union, which hosts the event, Eng. Khalid Bin Ahmed Balkheyour, CEO of Arabsat said: “We have an excellent working relationship with the Arab States Broadcasting Union and we have many common successful projects such as the global TV bouquet and MENOS project…

Abraaj said to delay IPO of North African hospitals

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Middle East’s largest buyout firm also in advance talks to dispose of Egyptian school operator Abraaj Group, roiled by allegations of misused money, is delaying the initial public offering or sale of its North African hospitals business while it seeks to resolve issues with investors, according to people with knowledge of the matter. The Middle East’s largest buyout firm will delay the sale, which was originally planned for the first half, until October, the people said, asking not to be identified because the matter is private. Separately, the company is…

Tunisia’s ‘Start-up Act’ provides incentives for entrepreneurs

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While experts agreed the law was a step in the right direction, they warned it should not be considered Tunisia’s sole economic lifeline. A new “Start-up Act” approved by Tunisia’s parliament is being hailed as a “sign of hope” for entrepreneurs. The legislation will provide grants, tax exemptions and government incentives to businesses that qualify as start-ups. The aim is to encourage young people to pursue innovative business ventures and drive growth in the science and technology sectors. “This is a huge opportunity to modernise our economic laws and promote…

Tunisian consulate in Libya reopens after nearly 3 years of closure

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Tunisia officially decided to reopen its consulate in the Libyan capital Tripoli after nearly a three-year closure following the kidnapping of Tunisian diplomats, the Libyan Foreign Ministry said on Saturday. “The Tunisian Consulate has officially begun working through Consul General Tawfik al-Qasmi and eight diplomats representing the staff of the Tunisian Consulate in Libya,” the ministry said in a statement. The statement added that the reopening of the consulate was a result of efforts and discussions between the Libyan Foreign Minister Mohamed Sayala and his Tunisian counterpart Khemaies Jhinaoui. The…

Tunisia: 300 Algerian tour operators expected at Algerian Tourism Fair in Hammamet

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300 Algerian tour operators are expected in Hammamet on the holding of the 2nd edition of the International Exhibition of Algerian and Tunisian Tourism Professionals that will take place, for the second consecutive year, in Hammamet on April 30 and May 1, 2018. This event, exclusively professional, which takes place on the eve of the high season, is initiated by the first online reservation center in Algeria “CLICnGO,” in collaboration with the Tunisian National Tourist Office (ONTT). On the Tunisian side, fifty or so exhibitors, made up of hotels and…

Trade agreement holds key economic, security benefits for Tunisia and the EU

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Tunisia and the EU are currently negotiating an extension of the existing free trade agreement. The agreement would, if prudently negotiated, offer benefits for both sides of the Mediterranean and could help strengthening political ties. However, before the champagne bottles can be opened, two fiddly subjects remain for the negotiators: services and agricultural goods. Next round of negotiations In April 2018, the next round of negotiations between the European Union and Tunisia about a deep and comprehensive free trade agreement known as ALECA (Accord de Libre Échange Complet et Approfondi)…

Chinese space-based remote sensing technology helps discover heritage in Tunisia

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Ten new archeological sites in southern Tunisia were discovered thanks to Chinese space-based remote sensing technology, Tunisian authorities said Thursday. The archaeological sites, dating back to ancient Roman times, are located in three Tunisian provinces — Gafsa, Tataouine and Medenine, said Tunisian Culture Minister Mohamed Zine El-Abidine at a press conference. The discoveries included some Roman forts, limes, a water supply system, three giant basins and a cemetery. The limes are in some ways walls and forts that surrounded rivers of ancient Roman cities for protection. The findings were made…

Tunisia’s foreign direct investment grew 27 percent

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Tunisia’s foreign direct investment (FDI) jumped by 27 percent in the first quarter, due to the government efforts to ease obstacles to investors, including cutting down licenses and limiting bureaucratic procedures, official data showed on Thursday. The Foreign Investment Promotion Agency noted the flow of foreign direct investment in Tunisia was 560 million dinars (USD 230.54 million) in the first quarter. The rise in investments was  the result of  a strong increase in industrial investment, which rose 45 percent to 185 million dinars. As regards, the sectoral distribution of foreign investments,…

Tunisia in transition with hope and challenges, UN expert says

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Tunisia has continued to make progress on democracy since the revolution more than seven years ago, including a Constitution guaranteeing fundamental rights for all Tunisians, but there is still a lot to do, says a UN human rights expert. “Tunisia still faces numerous challenges, including setting up key institutions required by the Constitution, such as the Constitutional Court, and aligning a number of overly-restrictive laws with the democratic and human rights standards proclaimed by the new Constitution,” says the UN Special Rapporteur on freedom of religion or belief, Ahmed Shaheed.…