Meeting with an UNCTAD delegation in Tunis on 10 July, the President of the Republic of Tunisia, H.E. Dr. Moncef Marzouki, reiterated the invitation for UNCTAD to hold its next World Investment Forum (WIF) in Tunisia in 2014.
Led by Mr. James Zhan, Director of the Division on Investment and Enterprise, and also comprising Mr. Mongi Hamdi, Chef de Cabinet, Secretary-General’s office, the UNCTAD delegation presented an action plan for UNCTAD’s technical assistance in the area of investment and enterprise development for Tunisia.
The plan was requested by the President at a meeting with UNCTAD Secretary-General Supachai Panitchpakdi in Tunis in February this year.
The action plan was prepared in consultation with the Ambassador of Tunisia in Geneva and Tunisia's Minister of Investment and International Cooperation, as well as the Executive Director of the Foreign Investment Promotion Agency.
As part of the action plan, UNCTAD’s Investment Policy Review of Tunisia will articulate a strategic vision for the role of FDI in achieving the country’s development objectives and provide concrete recommendations. Other projects of technical assistance will be launched in parallel to deliver immediate impact and respond to Tunisia’s pressing needs.
The President expressed his appreciation for UNCTAD’s assistance, pledged his full support to the action plan and urged its early implementation.
The delegation took the opportunity to present the 2012 World Investment Report which introduces UNCTAD’s newly developed Investment Policy Framework for Sustainable Development. The Report was also presented at a conference opened by the Minister of Investment and International Cooperation of Tunisia in the presence of policy-makers, investment practitioners and journalists.
In response to the urgent request by the Tunisian Government, the Investment Policy Review (IPR) of Tunisia and related technical assistance focused, inter alia, on job creation and global value chain will be carried out simultaneously to speed up the delivery and impact.
The IPR will be conducted based on UNCTAD’s Investment Policy Framework for Sustainable Development and in line with the government’s new vision and strategy.
UNCTAD team will be holding a workshop in Tunis today to present the IPR process and orientations, as well as to exchange views on the existing investment regulatory framework.