WASHINGTON, June 16, 2014 – Exports could be an engine of growth and job creation in Tunisia, but the sector is dominated by labor intensive industries that produce low value-added goods, which have not created the quantity and quality of jobs needed by the Tunisian economy. A new World Bank project will support enterprises to produce and export goods and services with higher value addition and to penetrate new markets.
“Exports have made significant contributions to Tunisia’s growth and development over the past decade, but in recent years Tunisia has lost market share and its competiveness is slipping due to limited diversification in both its markets and products, low value added and little innovation in its exporting sectors,” said Djibrilla Issa, the World Bank Task Team Leader for the project. “This project aims to help the country regain momentum by promoting its export sector to move beyond the current model of assembling products for foreign companies to becoming direct exporters of goods and services to a broader range of markets.”
The US$50 million Third Export Development Project will target three main groups of stakeholders: Private enterprises and investors in export sectors; both government and private agencies playing a key role in the business environment; and workers and potential employees in private enterprises.
The project has four main components: The first is to increase the competiveness of Tunisian exports by improving trade logistics and simplifying customs procedures and clearing mechanisms…
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