Country Profile
From The Report: Tunisia 2019
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Long viewed as an open economy with a unique geographic position at the centre of the Mediterranean, Tunisia has faced macroeconomic challenges since the 2011 revolution. The country has successfully navigated the difficulties of the post-revolutionary period by capably establishing robust democratic institutions. Furthermore, while issues of corruption and security remain a problem the current administration has displayed determination to address these challenges. The upcoming parliamentary and presidential elections – which are scheduled for late 2019 – are likely to shed new light on the current balance of power. Nevertheless, to ensure stability over the longer term more consistent efforts at economic reform, infrastructure upgrade and the provision of public services is needed. If Tunisia succeeds in ensuring sustainable development it may yet become not only a leader of the democratic process in the region, but also of prosperity as well. This chapter contains interviews with Ferid Belhaj, Vice-President for Middle East and North Africa, World Bank; and Chileshe Kapwepwe, Secretary-General, COMESA.

Articles from this Chapter

Overview

Historically open: Recent social reforms build on the country’s new democratic institutions and rich heritage
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Following independence from France the Tunisian Republic was founded in 1956. Habib Bourguiba – known as the father of the nation – tempered the influence of religion, pushed for women’s rights in the Personal Status Code and created secular, coeducational and bilingual schools. These measures helped Tunisia to establish itself leading regional example of modernisation and development. Building on these foundations, following the 2011 Jasmine Revolution Tunisia rose to become a leading example…

Overview

Path to democracy: Political reforms go in hand with economic revival
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The Republic of Tunisia established a unitary semi-presidential democratic government after its independence from France in 1956. The country’s first half-century of sovereignty was marked by steady social progress and reasonably robust economic development. Under the reign of President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali, who ruled from 1987 to his ousting in the Jasmine Revolution of 2011, business-friendly reforms were enacted and the country experienced relative stability and economic progress. Nevertheless,…

Analysis

Pivotal role: Democratisation opens up new opportunities for economic and diplomatic cooperation
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Since the 2011 Jasmine Revolution, Tunisia has not only developed at the domestic level, but also in terms of its external relations. While the popular upheaval helped reshape the region by inspiring the Arab Spring – for better and worse – the country’s flourishing civil society and growing participation in international organisations has supported stronger relations with both traditional and new partners. Tunisia has a long-standing diplomatic network, having long been active in regional…

Interview

Digitalisation prospects: Ferid Belhaj, Vice-President for Middle East and North Africa, World Bank, on creating jobs through technological innovation
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Interview:Ferid Belhaj How can digitalisation help economies in North Africa address the constraints of informality? FERID BELHAJ: Digitalisation offers a critical opportunity for North Africa to address the accessibility and affordability barriers that keep many firms and individuals in the informal sector by reducing regulatory compliance costs, while also enhancing service delivery quality. It can also provide transformational solutions to address financial exclusion for households and…

Interview

Key agreements: Chileshe Kapwepwe, Secretary-General, COMESA, on facilitating digitalisation and the benefits of cooperation
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Interview:Chileshe Kapwepwe How can digital solutions promote economic integration between COMESA member states? CHILESHE KAPWEPWE: The 2018 COMESA Heads of State and Government Summit theme was “Towards Digital Economic Integration”. It was designed to motivate member states to fully adopt digital technology, thereby reducing disparities in the state of digitalisation across COMESA countries. The digital economy is accelerating regional integration in a number of ways. First, it is…