While political relations between Tunisia and Iran are strengthening, the two countries now want to breathe new life into their economic cooperation.
On the occasion of the 3rd summit of Iran-Africa economic cooperation, which was held in Tehran this week, the Tunisian Minister of Trade and Development of Exports, Samir Abid, laid the foundations for a strategic partnership oriented towards external markets.
“The political relations between our two countries are very high, sophisticated and strategic,” he said in an interview with the Tehran Times. But economically, exchanges remain low and out of step with this diplomatic potential. Several factors explain it: a lack of direct commitments, different geographic priorities, and the international pressures that have weighed on Iran.
The now displayed ambition is to build an economic axis connecting Africa to Asia, based on the geographic assets of each country. “Tunisia serves as a gateway to Africa (…). Iran, for its part, has a strong presence in Asian markets and strategic links with Russia, “said Samir Abid. Together, they could create bridges to third -party markets, apart from traditional commercial circuits.
Tourism, industrial co-enterprises, development of new products for Africa or Asia: there are many areas of cooperation. A Tuniso-Iranian mixed committee, which will soon meet in Tunis, should specify the priority axes.
But to succeed, this economic rapprochement will have to go beyond the institutional framework. “The private sector must play a driving role,” insists the Tunisian minister. Objective: promote exchanges between companies in the two countries, stimulate cross exports and build joint international projects.
In a context of global diplomatic and economic rebalancing, this emerging partnership could well draw a new geography of exchanges for Tunisia.
