Category: Blog

A Get Together To Break New Ground!

The AmCham new board members and the executive office were invited on September 30, 2024, at the U.S. ambassador’s residence to celebrate the commencement of a new chapter at AmCham Tunisia and get to know the U.S. Embassy in Tunis staff.

His Excellency M. Joe Hood, U.S. Ambassador to Tunisia, opened the reception with an eloquent speech and cordial welcome congratulating the newly elected AmCham Tunisia president and its board members by proudly declaring the unique bond that AmCham Tunisia has with the U.S. Embassy in Tunis. He stated that The United States of America sees hope and potential in Tunisia. “There are many reasons to give hope in this country…” He added, “We have seen over the past 227 years how America and Tunisian cooperation has accomplished many things together.” Moreover, since October 2023, AmCham Tunisia has been working closely with the consular service of the Embassy for a business visa program. “Within the AmCham Tunisia, that made it much easier to get the interview on time with the service consular section”, he highlighted. Finally, yet importantly, he revealed the involvement of the U.S. Government in supporting the date sector in Tunisia. “35 Million dollar project to help Tunisian farmers produce more dates with less water and hopefully process and sell more to the American market.” https://tn.usembassy.gov/u-s-department-of-agriculture-invites-applications-for-food-for-progress-program/
By closing his speech, he underlined that the U.S. Government aims to improve the business climate by working alongside the Tunisian government.

Honouring His Excellency’s speech, M. Marouane Ben Jemaa, AmCham Tunisia President, on this occasion shared his thoughts by bringing up the vital role that AmCham Tunisia plays in bridging the gap between the latest technologies and the Tunisian market, fostering innovation and progress.
As a strong and credible organization, AmCham Tunisia will blow up another candle. “Amazingly, we will celebrate its 35th anniversary in the coming weeks!”. He rejoiced. In addition, he said that the chamber has always stood as a bridge between Tunisian and American business communities. This partnership allows us to grow and thrive despite all challenges. Alongside the board members, he is committed to carrying forward AmCham’s mission of strengthening bilateral trade and investment between Tunisia and the United States, as he announced launching a two-year program to reinforce ties with American companies, such as promoting handicraft products in the U.S. and boosting its sustainable tourism by creating scientific and cultural events. To sum up his speech, he conveyed, “Let us continue to uphold the shared values of innovation, entrepreneurship, and partnership that have always defined our relationship with the United States. With trust and commitment, we can take AmCham Tunisia to new heights.”

The evening was mesmerizing and ran smooth as silk. We, AmCham Tunisia, had an extraordinary moment to exchange cultural thoughts about both countries and sustain continued contribution with the U.S. Embassy in Tunis.

AmCham Tunisia embark on another new chapter !

September 6, 2024 – The American Chamber of Commerce Tunisia – AmCham Tunisia held its 7th Elective General Assembly at Concorde Hotel Les Berges du Lac in Tunis.

AmCham Tunisia hosted its members from various sectors. The Elective General Assembly agenda was structured by overviewing the approval of the due moral and financial reports for the year 2022 and the year 2023 and the adoption of a new resolution anonymously, followed by the vote of the new AmCham Tunisia board members.

In particular, on that day, M. Noomane Fehri, CEO at OurDigitalFuture.org and an AmCham Tunisia’s board member, suggested that AmCham Tunisia’s former presidents have the right to take a seat on the executive board, to bring their expertise over 30 years. Consequently, AmCham Tunisia’s former president became an honorary board member to ensure continuity in governance.

At this moment, the list of AmCham Tunisia’s former presidents;

Mohamed Moncef Barouni

Mondher Ben Ayed

Nazeh Ben Ammar

Amel Bouchamaoui Hammami

Khaled Babbou

Naceur Hidoussi

To secure the objectivity and reliability of the Elective General Assembly for a trustworthy and fair election, AmCham Tunisia designed a panel of 4 people to conduct the vote-counting process. More than 100 members were present to participate in the election. 20 Tunisian companies and 14 U.S. companies implemented in Tunisia were displayed for the vote.

The official voting results of the elected members were announced on the same day. By the bylaws, AmCham Tunisia is delighted to introduce its new board.

 

President

Marouane Ben Jemaa (Alpha Ford)

 

General Secretary

Jihene Landolssi (Pfizer)

 

VP in Charge of Legal Affairs

Mohamed Zaanouni (Dentons)

 

VP

Fatma Rekik (COFAT)

 

Board Members-at-Large

Rym Bedoui Ayari (WeFranchiz)

Adel Dahmani (3S)

Ali Belakhoua (Starzs Electronics)

Brahim Ben Ayed (General Electric Vernova)

Haykel Belhassine (Citi)

Hela Fourati (TAEF)

Houbeb Ajmi (Université Centrale)

Islem Ben Mbarek (Al Badr Aerospace)

Jihed Jahdour (HPE)

Karim Gahbiche (CEREALIS)

Lamia Fourati (Ontech Group)

Lotfi Debbabi (QNB)

Med Ali Ben Arbia (So Invest)

Noomane Fehri (Digital Future)

Rafik Mzah (AfricInvest)

Riadh Chaieb (HP)

 

With the new board, AmCham Tunisia believes that each member will bring a wealth of expertise and high commitment that aligns perfectly with its mission and vision.

To give tribute to M. Naceur Hidoussi – 6th President of The American Chamber of Commerce in Tunisia, in his heartwarming farewell speech, said, “None of this would have been possible without the incredible efforts of our dedicated members. Your passion, hard work, and unwavering commitment to the Chamber’s mission have been the driving force behind our success.” And added “It has also been a personal journey of growth for me. Leading the Chamber through both times of opportunity and challenge has been a profound learning experience. The relationships I have built, the lessons I have learned, and the shared moments of both triumph and difficulty, will stay with me for the rest of my life.”, Then he emphasized, “There are many exciting challenges and opportunities ahead, and I have no doubt that this chamber will continue to be a beacon of collaboration and growth between our two nations.”

 

Women Sustainable Alliance

On August 13th, 2024, we celebrated Tunisian women and witnessed the birth of a new female network, The Women Sustainable Alliance, presided over by Mrs Donia Hamouda, CEO and founder of Tourismag.com.
The network aims to recognize women with remarkable skills leading the tourism and hospitality sector sustainably and passionately to shape the future of Tunisia.
The International Women Entrepreneur Council (CIFE) introduced the Women Sustainable Alliance at Dar El Molk, the guest house located a few miles from the capital, in the middle of the townie Mornag. It is known for its agricultural plain, mainly covered with vineyards and olive trees.
The CIFE president, Mrs Rachida Jabnoun, opened the ceremony with powerful words to glorify the Tunisian Woman for her achievements and leadership. Their excellencies, the ambassador of Türkiye in Tunis, the ambassador of Senegal in Tunis, the ambassador of Switzerland in Tunis and the ambassador of Argentina in Tunis, followed her talk by expressing their contentment for being present.
Keynote speakers from various fields addressed their concerns about the Tunisian tourism model, its impact on the environment and the role of women in this sector. Mrs Houda Nefzaoui from USAID Visit Tunisia Activity explained through statistics the competitiveness of Tunisian tourism compared with internationally famous destinations. She added that this Alliance can raise awareness about sustainability as tourism is bound to land and considered a means of socio-economic development, especially in developing countries such as Tunisia.
From our AmChamers [Members], Mrs Meriem Driss was present as a pioneer of the hospitality industry in Tunisia. We want to cheer her up about her contribution to promoting tourism in Tunisia, and we are delighted to have her among our family members at AmCham Tunisia.
Considering CIFE as a close association, AmCham Tunisia was thrilled to advertise this event for an effective partnership, as it is crucial to encourage and support women in these roles to promote gender diversity and strengthen the whole sector.

Tunisian Olive Oil triumphed by winning 62 Gold Medals

To honour the 62 gold medals given to Tunisian companies at the United States International Olive Oil Competition (USIOOC), Miami 2024,
His Excellency M. Joe Hood, U.S. Ambassador to Tunisia, hosted winners on July 17th, 2024, to pay them tribute.
In his speech, His Excellency heartily welcomed everyone. He sparked his curiosity in how he learned in many ways about Tunisian Olive Oil, such as gastronomy, harvesting and its benefits for health. In addition, he enlightened the U.S. Embassy in Tunis’s encouragement by enhancing the Olive Oil sector in Tunisia and working on new opportunities for Tunisian SMEs. On top of that, he proudly expressed the presence of numerous Olive Oil products “Made in Tunisia” on the shelves of various supermarkets in the United States, not to mention, “It should be well known for its quality in all corners of the world”. He summarized his speech with a pleasant sentence, “As an Organic Olive Oil leader and a second supplier of bottled Olive Oil products in the United States, I can’t help but wait to see Tunisia in the first rank in this sector at all levels, and we, the United States of America, are committed to promoting you.”
Following His Excellency’s speech, M. Raouf Chouket, Co-Founder and CEO of the Swedish Startup Global International Olive Oil Competitions (GIOOC AB) and President of the leading international extra virgin Olive Oil competition, gave a talk about the challenges that Tunisian Olive Oil companies are facing to export their products to the U.S. Market and looking for more facilitations from the U.S. Government.
Mrs. Rym Ayari, Vice President at AmCham Tunisia, marked the event as a further collaboration with Tunisian Olive Oil companies.

First Time Summer Innovation Camp in Tunis

Embrace change, jump on the opportunity, explore a leadership style and connect with like-minded people for long-lasting relationships. With this spirit, Avila University embarked on its first Summer Innovation Camp in Tunis at La Cité des Sciences. This exclusivity partnered with PMO_University of Carthage, Tunis Science City, Global Entrepreneurship Network, Ministry of Education in Tunis, National US-Arab Chamber of Commerce, AmCham Tunisia and Amideast Tunisia. The Summer Innovation Camp in Tunis was inaugurated by His Excellency Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research M. Moncef Boukthir, His Excellency the U.S. Ambassador in Tunis M. Joey R. Hood, The President of Avila University M. Jim Burkee and the Dean of the University of Carthage Mrs Nadia Mzoughi. It started on June 24th, 2024 and ended on June 28th, 2024. Experts from various sectors were present to provide students with consistent workshops. Among, M. Tom Sullivan heads small business policy at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. During the Political & Legal Influence of SMEs in the United States and Abroad course, he intended to provide models used regionally and nationally in the United States, such as international approaches and dove into challenges confronting SME stakeholders SMEs’ political and economic influence and how that value translates into a legal framework advantageous to the SME community. By the end of the fifth-day program, June 29th, 2024, Avila University planned a pitch competition for each course. M. Noomane Fehri, a former Minister of Communication Technologies and Digital Economy of Tunisia, CEO at OurDigitalFuture.org and a board member of AmCham Tunisia, was one of the Jury members in one of the appealing courses, AI Ethics and Governance. In the competition-themed AI in Healthcare, students performed by creating technologies to improve health professionals’ capabilities while enhancing the patient experience. What creativity we witnessed in the eyes of these tennprenneurs! To honour the Summer Innovation Camp Delegation, AmCham Tunisia praised this occasion with a Momentous Cocktail over the scenic view of the Mediterranean Sea at Villa Didon Carthage. This event helped our AmChamers [Members] and friends build connections and meet the delegation to learn more about American education opportunities.

 

Thriving with IHEC Carthage

Another one was added to the bucket. Welcome AmCham Junior Chapter IHEC Carthage.
On June 14th, 2024, AmCham Tunisia and the IHEC Carthage signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) in the presence of AmCham Tunisia President M. Naceur Hidoussi and Director of the IHEC Carthage M. Hassen Mzali at IHEC Carthage premises.
The MoU aims to establish an AmCham Tunisia Junior Chapter for students in the IHEC Carthage. Both organizations agreed to undertake joint implementation of cooperation programs focusing on the capacity to build and contribute to the success of the AmCham Tunisia Junior Chapter in the IHEC Carthage. Moreover, this agreement will encourage IHEC Carthage students to generate business ideas that drive profitability, growth, and sustainability for better career perspectives.
The AmCham Tunisia Junior Chapter in the IHEC Carthage is an unparalleled opportunity to wring out the Tunisian’s youth potential. On the other hand, AmCham Tunisia has a mission to cultivate future leaders and harness the power of networks and relationships for a better future for the Tunisian youth community.

Increasing awareness of international sanctions and sharing risk management practices in the transport industry

May 7-8, 2024 – at the Movenpick Gammarth Hotel in Tunis, the U.S. Department of State, in partnership with
the American Chamber of Commerce Tunisia, research center Sandia National Laboratories, and non-profit
C4ADS hosted 17 representatives of Tunisian transport companies and law firms for a workshop aimed at building
sanctions risk management capacity.
The workshop included a diversified agenda, case studies, and tabletop discussions. Topics included an overview
of UN, EU, and US sanctions; risks of transacting with sanctioned entities; and monitoring for illicit practices in the
maritime and aviation industries. Instructors coached attendees on how to use dozens of online tools to help
perform due diligence checks and identify fraudulent documentation. Speakers also discussed international
requirements for company and vessel registration.
Participants were actively engaged throughout the workshop, saying their knowledge of sanctions had improved
tremendously. With Tunisia’s vast trade potential and based on the event’s success, AmCham will provide notice
of any follow-on workshops.
As American financial historian Peter L. Bernstein said, “Risk management means protecting oneself from the
adverse and unexpected decisions others may make, and in the process, making better decisions than they do.”

 

 

Ordinary General Assembly

AmCham Tunisia announces the holding of its Ordinary General Assembly on October 27th, 10 am @ Concorde Hotel Les Berges du Lac
The agenda is as follows:
– Presentation and adoption of the AmCham activity report.
– Presentation and adoption of the financial report.
– Appointment of a new Auditor
– Set the date of the Elective General Assembly

Naceur Hidoussi
President

GSP ANALYSIS TRADE ORGANIC POTENTIAL TUNISIA-USA

Presentation of GSP

U.S. trade preference programs such as the Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) is the largest and oldest U.S. trade preference program. Established by the Trade Act of 1974, (this program aims to foster the integration of developing countries into the multilateral trading system and promote development through trade)
GSP promotes economic development by eliminating duties on thousands of products when imported from one of 119 designated beneficiary countries and territories.

 

US Tunisia trade key data

Tunisia is currently the 99th largest goods trading partner with $931 million in total (two way) goods trade during 2019.
Goods exports totaled $461 million
Goods imports totaled $470 million
The U.S. goods trade deficit with Tunisia was $9 million in 2019.
According to the US Department of Commerce, U.S. exports of goods to Tunisia supported an estimated 3 thousand jobs in the USA in 2015 (latest data available).

Top Export Category to the US

•U.S. goods export from Tunisia totaled $470 million in 2019 up 44.2% from 2009
•The top export categories
•electrical machinery ($102 million)
•animal or vegetable fats and oils -olive oil ($97 million)
•woven apparel ($58 million)
•machinery ($49 million)
•and edible fruit & nuts (date, fig) ($19 million)

Top 25 of GSP underutilized codes results in loss of $28 millions USD for Tunisia exporters

USTR data 2019

Actions

Inform
•About 20% of Tunisia companies eligible to a GSP privilege are not claiming or underutilizing GSP – mainly in the automotive – aeronautics
Increase quotas
•About 80% of Tunisia exports under GSP are food related items. The quotas are nearly fully utilized (95%)

 

ADD HS codes

There is a large untapped potential in the automotive (electronics – cables, etc.)
(cf. ITC data –Trade DSM)
•Members requested for new HS: fruits / automotive / Dates Paste / Packaged Dates / Tuna and Sardines in olive oil / Tires / Galvanized tubes and coils / Electrical sub-assembly Cards Equipped with an Electronic Integrated Circuit (Smart Cards) / Printed circuits board / plastic parts / Aluminum box / Articles / sanitary ware / Ceramics / Floor tiles

Advocacy for GSP

Discussion with USTR
•Better understand how countries are evaluated and GSP reconducted
•Addendum of HS codes that can promote new sectors (cf. success story of arts and crafts)-
•also help Tunisia better integration since GSP represents only 32% of traded goods with US
•Technical assistance – capacity building programs (cosmetics – drugs)
Communication on GSP
•Discussion with private sector to increase awareness
•Modelization with international trade specialist to understand the impact of GSP on new sectors
•Consultation with agri-food sector to better understand needs related to GSP (Quotas, renewal, etc.)