The Republic of Tunisia is also known as a popular destination for Czech tourists, it is also the country where the so-called Jasmine Revolution in 2011 started the process of democratization despite security and economic challenges. The cultural and geographical proximity to Europe makes Tunisia an important partner in the North African region.
Executive power in Tunisia was shared during the first half of 2021 by President Kais Said with a non-party government led by Prime Minister Hishem Meshiš, the second in a row since the October 2019 legislative elections that established a fragmented arrangement of forces in parliament. On July 25, 2021, President Kais Said announced the activation of Article 80 of the Tunisian constitution, which strengthens the powers of the president, froze, and subsequently dissolved the parliament and dismissed the head of government. Pending a referendum on constitutional changes and legislative elections during 2022, executive power is held solely by the president with the help of the government of Prime Minister Nažla Buden, who was appointed in October 2021. The country can be expected to move towards a presidential system, while the fate of Tunisia’s democratization is shrouded in uncertainty.
According to THERELIGIONFAQS, Tunisia is a priority partner country of the European Union, with which it also maintains close economic ties – up to 80% of Tunisian exports go to the EU. Of the EU member states, France, Germany and Italy are mainly active in Tunisia. In 1995, an Association Agreement was concluded between the EU and Tunisia, which eliminated customs duties for trade in industrially produced products. Negotiations on the DCFTA (known under the French name ALECA) have been suspended. Agreements on economic cooperation, avoidance of double taxation and mutual protection of investments were signed with the Czech Republic. Since 2009, bilateral economic cooperation has been discussed within the framework of a regular so-called Mixed Commission under the auspices of the Ministry of Industry and Trade of the Czech Republic.
The pillars of the Tunisian economy are services, especially tourism, a growing and export-oriented machinery, electrical and textile industry, agriculture (olive oil, fruit). Strategic cooperation between the Czech Republic and Tunisia has been discussed for a long time in the field of water management, defense industry or healthcare. There is also the topic of industrial modernization and digitization, in all sectors, the need for which came to light during the COVID-19 crisis. There are a number of promising technology start-ups operating in the country. Tunisia is also a health center and center of the pharmaceutical industry for neighboring Libya and other sub-Saharan African states. Friendly conditions for full-export (so-called off shore) companies from Tunisia make it an interesting destination for exporters to Europe, the Middle East or Africa.
Czech companies interested in Tunisia should take into account the importance of personal contact and hierarchy in business relations. Tunisia strives for cultural and social proximity to Europe, but it is still a society with a firmly rooted Muslim culture. At first glance, a “secular” Tunisian may observe religious traditions (e.g. fasting during Ramadan). On a personal level, Tunisians are generous, but the process of formalizing decisions and commitments is crucial, and sometimes leads to a disproportionately long decision-making process. Knowledge of the French language, which dominates business negotiations, is very useful.
Against a backdrop of political uncertainty, the country is facing painful economic reforms to secure a loan from the International Monetary Fund to avert a looming economic crisis. These include the removal of nationwide subsidies for selected food and fuel, the reduction of state administration costs (17% of GDP) and the restructuring of loss-making state enterprises. The country’s debt is at an alarming 84% of GDP, a state that has been contributed to by both the 8.6% collapse of the Tunisian economy during the COVID-19 pandemic and the increase in oil and grain prices due to Russian aggression against Ukraine.
Practical telephone numbers (emergency services, police, firefighters, information lines, etc.)
+216 – international code
193 – National Guard
197 – Police
198 – Firefighters
190 – Emergency room
1200 – Information line
Emergency medical assistance in Tunis:
SOS doctor – 71 744 215
SOS ambulance – 71 725 555, 71 599 900
Ministry of Health: green line 80 10 19 19
ShocRoom operations center 71 567 500
national station for emerging diseases 71 284 547, 560, 561
- Important Internet links and contacts
Market Access Portal: www.acces-aumarche.gov.tn
Customs regulation: https://import-export.societegenerale.fr
API Agence de promotion industriel: www.tunisieindustrie.nat.tn
Tunis Le Kram exhibition center: www.fkram.com.tn
SFAX Exhibition Center: www.foiredesfax.com
public procurement: www.tuneps.tn
company formation: www.tunisia-societe.com, www.tunisie-sat.com
Contacts at the embassies of the Czech Republic in the territory
Embassy of the Czech Republic in Tunisia
Ambassador of the Czech Republic in Tunisia: Mgr. Jan Vyčítal (from 7 February 2019)
98, Rue de Palestine, 1002 Tunis Belvédère, Tunisie
Phone: +216 71 78 19 16, +216 71 78 04 56
Fax: +216 71 79 32 28
Emergency line: +216 98464617
E-mail: commerce_tunis@mzv.cz
Practical telephone numbers (emergency services, police, firemen, information lines, etc.)
- +216 international code
- 193 – National Guard
- 197 – Police
- 198 – Firefighters
- 190 – Emergency room
- 1200 – Information line
Emergency medical assistance in Tunis:
- SOS doctor – 71 744 215
- SOS ambulance – 71 725 555, 71 599 900
- Ministry of Health: green line 80 10 19 19
- ShocRoom operations center 71 567 500
- national station for emerging diseases 71 284 547, 560, 561
- Contacts in case of risk of rabies infection: http://www.rage.tn//Fr/nos-centres-veterinaires_8_295_R1 or inquire at the nearest clinic or pharmacy to ensure timely vaccination
Important web links and contacts
- Customs regulation: https://import-export.societegenerale.fr
- API Agence de promotion industriel: www.tunisieindustrie.nat.tn
- Tunis Le Kram exhibition center: www.fkram.com.tn
- SFAX Exhibition Center: www.foiredesfax.com
- public procurement: www.tuneps.tn
- company formation: www.tunisia-societe.com, www.tunisie-sat.com,
- customs: www.douane.tn
- ONMNE Reference Office for New and Unknown Diseases of the Ministry of Health: www.onmne.tn (ONMNE – Observatoire National des Maladies Nouvelles et Emergentes)
