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Owing to
its geostrategic position, in the Mediterranean, Tunisia was
and remains a crossroad of cultures and encounters, a key
location for exchanges and investments.
As a land of three thousand years of history marked by the
achievements of renowned figures, such as Hannibal, Magon
the agronomist, Ibn Khaldoun, the founder of social sciences,
Kheïreddine, the reformer, Tahar Haddad, the militant
of human rights, Chebbi, the poet, as well as many others,
Tunisia carves assiduously its path to its full potential
and development.
With
a surface area of 162.155 km, Tunisia counts a population
of 9,5 million inhabitants, 32% are active. In addition to
Arabic, official language, several other languages, in particular
French and English, are commonly spoken.
Capitalizing on the generalization of education, the reduction
of social disparity and the constant raise of population’s
living standards, Tunisia offers today the image of a country
determined to win the challenges and engaged irreversibly
in progress’ paths.
This success is due to a long tradition of dialogue and concertation,
its securing political and social stability. The political
system is founded on the principle of the separation of powers.
The constitution defends human rights and secures their exercise.
Tunisia’s stability is largely due, on the one hand
to the existence of a large middle class which continues to
rise (80% of the tunisian population is middle class and 81%
of households own their houses) and, on the other hand, to
major efforts in curbing poverty (today only 4,2% of the population
have an income under the poverty line against 11,5% in 1985).
A social program of national solidarity, launched in 1993,
made it possible to curb poverty in the most deprived zones.
In addition, community life knows an unprecedented dynamism
with the creation of 7.000 Associations in scientific as well
cultural, economic, environmental fields, etc.
As for the development, Tunisia makes foreign direct investments
one of the pillars of its economic and social strategy. Many
mechanisms and measures have been set up to encourage and
protect these investments.
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