The American Chamber of Commerce in Tunisia organized in Tunis on Tuesday, March 13th, a breakfast debate having the theme of “Startup Act”. This event is organized jointly with the mixed chambers of commerce members of the Council of Mixed Chambers of Tunisia (CCM) and was honored by the presence of H.E Anouar Maarouf, Minister of Technology and Digital Economy, representatives of foreign companies in Tunisia, public and private sector, as well as representatives of mixed chambers in Tunisia.
Foued Lakhoua, President of Tunisian French Chamber of Commerce and of CCM, opened the debate highlighting the importance of the project “Startup Act” for the promotion of the private sector.
Naceur Hidoussi, President of the AmCham Tunisia, thanked the guests for attending the debate of the new law “Startup Act” which will allow Tunisia to open up to the world. Mr. Hidoussi specified that this law consists of 4 chapters and 20 articles and aims to promote job
creation in the sector, the financing of start-ups, protection of intellectual property, administrative procedures, the fluidity of funding and fiscal advantages.
« Technology today has neither barriers nor limits » declared M. Naceur Hidoussi who mentioned essentially examples of companies like Ali Baba and Skype. These latter’s knew shy beginnings with very modest means and which thanks to their perseverance and determination, revolutionized technology all over the world.
The launch of the startup act was moderated by Mr. Mohamed Bridaa, AmCham Board Member and Manager of Microsoft Tunisia.
H.E, The Minister noted that the project will help Tunisia with both regional and international integration and will impact the change of economic vision. Me.Maya Boureghda, a member of the panel and flag bearer of the project, noted that the young Tunisian entrepreneurs feel blocked by laws and barricaded by a paralyzing system insisting on the necessity of this bill which will help them to work and to rely on their own. Measures that have existed for a good decade and are not implemented should be taken in order to draft this bill.
Me. Boughreda concluded her intervention quoting that the “Start up Act” is defined as the law of hope which measures will boost entrepreneurs and encourage them to undertake while taking advantage of security measures.
Bassem Bouguerra talked about his experience with many startups and exposed the case of polytechnic students who presented innovative end-of-studies projects, the majority of whom concluded contracts of employment in France and Germany. He emphasized that it is imperative to encourage them to stay in their country by facilitating their project.
Oussama Messaoud, manager of DATAVORA, presented his company and talked about his idea which consists on filling and exploiting information on the E-commerce market and present this data in a package format to the businessmen concerned.
He also noted that in his company they went personally look for customs abroad (USA), presented them their expertise and were forced to align at their same level of competence so that they can satisfy them.
Noomane El Fehri was among the guests present and intervened by welcoming this bill initiative through which the role of the state will become a role of catalyst and not a retarder.