Tunisia is not endowed as abundantly as its North African neighbors with vast natural resources. But careful and successful economic management has brought the country reasonable prosperity. Unemployment at 16 per cent is a cause for concern even though, annual growth over the last five years has been between 3.8 and 5 per cent and current inflation is just 3 per cent.

 Agriculture and mining are the foundations of the economy. The main agricultural products are wheat, barley, olive oil, fruits and wine. But other foodstuffs have to be imported.

Large quantities of phosphate ores are mined along with iron, lead, aluminium fluoride and zinc. Tunisia is also a modest oil exporter, although this industry has recently been in decline and known reserves are not expected to last much beyond 2005. Natural gas fields are more extensive. There is a small manufacturing sector involved in processing organic chemicals derived from petroleum and purification of phosphate ore. Other industrial products are textiles, construction materials, machinery, chemicals, paper and wood. Tourism dominates the service sector, though the industry is sensitive to the regional political climate (particularly relations with Algeria and Libya).
The economic policies of the government during the last decade has been that of deregulation, including abolition of trade controls, privatization and making the Tunisian Dinar fully convertible. Tunisia’s most important trade links are with the European Union whose members account for three-quarters of all the country’s trade. France and Germany are the major trading partners.

A free trade agreement was signed with the European Union in 1995, further strengthening the economic relations. This has been introduced gradually over a 12-year period starting from 1998. This is similar to the association agreements signed by would-be members of the EU and, although there is no prospect of Tunisia ever joining the EU, the deal was a significant diplomatic achievement for the Tunisian government. Tunisia is a member of the Union of the Arab Maghareb and of various pan-Arab economic organizations.

Business: Although French dominates the commercial dealings, Arabic and French are  widely used languages in business circles and knowledge of either is useful. Interpreter services are available. Appointments are required. 
Office hours: Mon-Fri 0830-1300 and 1500-1745 (winter); Mon-Sat 0830-1300 (summer). Government office opening hours may vary by half an hour.