Tunisia’s Technology Trends
Tunisia’s Technology Trends
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  • 승인 2007.10.18 17:06
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The following is an interview with Minister Montasser Ouaili of Tunisia's Ministery of Information and Communication (MIC) -- Ed.

Q: Please state the comprehensive competitiveness of Tunisia in the international IT industry among African countries

A: Thanks to its economic and social development policies, based on the reinforcement of the openness, the modernity, the effectiveness and the competitiveness, Tunisia has succeeded, with recognized performances, in rising to hold a privileged position in the group of emerging economies. The 2007 World Economic Forum (WEF) report on Global Competitiveness, ranked Tunisia 29th among 128 countries, moving up by one position as compared to year 2006. This has consolidated Tunisian leadership at the level of the African continent.

Within the same framework, Tunisia adopted, at all levels, a voluntary ICT development policy in order to make this field one of the principal drivers of the economic growth and to consolidate the change of the Tunisian economy towards a knowledge-based economy. The 2007 WEF Global Information Technology Report ranked Tunisia according to "Network Readiness Index" at the 35th position among 122 countries, ahead of many developed countries and in the forefront of the African Continent. The Tunisian Government was also recognized as being among the most successful governments in their policies of ICT promotion occupying the 4th position at the global level.

Q: What's your opinion regarding mutual IT cooperation possibilities between the two countries which could be explored in the coming years

A: As mentioned above, Tunisia is recognized as a leader in ICT development and having the capacity to be an actor in the development of these technologies, their appropriation and their integration. On another side, South Korea is a country which succeeded in becoming one of the most developed countries in ICT in general and the ICT related industry in particular. Beyond the fact that Tunisia represents a market for Korean ICT products, the win-win situation of the co-operation between our two countries is more justified in the mutual interest expressed for the African and regional market. Thanks to its geographical and cultural proximity of African countries and its possession of a competitive and highly qualified basin of ICT human resources, Tunisia can present itself as a base of near shoring and a partner for the African market, the most promising market of the world in the coming years.

In addition, the nearness of Tunisia to the doors of Europe, and being as partner of the European space through a free exchange agreement which comes into effect in 2008, Tunisia offers the opportunity to enhance the competitiveness and the proximity for Korean industry, with respect to the European market.

Lastly, it is important to notice that Tunisia is developing a strong pool of innovating and powerful companies in the field of Information Technologies which could also bring a strong added value for Korean industry. As you can tell, we are really in a win-win situation.

Q: How is the state of the IT collaboration between the two countries right now

A: On the institutional level, Tunisia and South Korea have signed, since 2004, a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) aiming at bringing together and sharing their experience in the field of the ICT. This MOU involves not only public authorities but also the business sector in this field. In addition, during WSIS, South Korea financed the installation of an Internet Community Center in the City of Sciences in Tunis.

In the area of collaboration between business sectors of the two countries, it should be noted that all the main brands of the Korean ICT industry are present in Tunisia, in most cases, through local partners. This commercial co-operation has been evolved during the near last years to an industrial partnership. All these partnerships are a great success and lead to a more significant development.

Q: Please touch upon Tunisia's IT nurturing policy.

A: The ICT development policy lies within the scope of the national objectives aiming at building a knowledge-based economy. The ICT sector constitutes a strategic sector for developing the national economy. The policy which led to this level is primarily based on the following axes:

* The establishment of a very attractive legal framework in phase with the ICT developments on national and international levels. Since 2001, the telecommunications sector was open to private initiative. Now, we have three telecommunication operators, two in mobile telephony and two in data transmission with VSAT and WiMax technologies;

* The development of the infrastructure and info structure in order to be an adjunct to the economic development and improvement of its competitiveness,

* The reinforcement of the capacities and the broad dissemination of the digital culture to all citizens and at all levels. More than 12% of the student's mass in Tunisia, are now in ICT branches. 13% of the graduates of the higher education per year are graduates in the ICT field.

* The development of the ICT business sector and its support for accessing the international market and in particular African, European and American regions. A new law promulgated in February 2007, founded a promising framework for the development of the digital economy in Tunisia in particular through the public-private partnerships.

Q: In terms of IT, please introduce IT investment possibilities in Tunisia for Korean IT investors.

A: Tunisia has an extremely advantageous legal framework for the development of the foreign investment in all fields. All information about this framework is available on the web site www.investintunisia.tn.

Offshore companies installed in Tunisia are awarded an exemption from the VAT, a low tax rate (10%) and many other advantages related to the employment of higher education graduates and to the priority development areas.

Some other incentives are specific to the ICT field, such as incentives about certification and training of human resources. The Information Technologies sector in Tunisia is very open to competition and to the presence of foreign companies. There are two bodies specialized in supporting foreign investors in ICT field, the office of the Ministry for Communication Technologies www.infocom.tn and the Foreign Investment Promotion Agency www.investintunisia.tn.

Q: Please touch upon the commercial possibility in Tunisia Korea's IT technology and products such as DMB and WiBro could be applied to the citizens of Tunisia.

A: The Tunisian ICT market is an open market where all technologies are available and particularly the innovative ones. Some activities, in particular operating in telecommunication sector, are subject to particular procedures based on the licensing regime in compliance with the current telecommunications law.

Nevertheless and on the basis of our strong appreciation of Korean Southern technologies in the field, and within the framework of the reinforcement of the bilateral co-operation between Tunisia and South Korea, an action was initiated with some South Korean businesses in order to study technical and commercial opportunities for the deployment in Tunisia of some new technologies like Mobile Wimax (Wibro), always in respect of the legal framework in place.


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