Tunisian Minister of Trade and Export Development Samir Abid emphasised the significance of the Libya-Tunisia-Africa overland trade corridor, describing it as one of the government’s key initiatives poised to greatly enhance export growth.
Speaking at the “Regional Export Mornings” forum in Sfax, Abid outlined several programmes under the ministry’s purview, including the commercial corridor project, which aims to bolster trade between Tunisia and Libya while extending connections to five landlocked African nations: Chad, Niger, Mali, Burkina Faso, and the Central African Republic.
The trade corridor is expected to serve as the largest overland crossing in Africa, facilitating smoother transit of goods and strengthening economic ties between Tunisia, Libya, and their southern neighbours.
Abid reiterated the government’s commitment to this project, noting its potential to significantly impact export development and enhance Tunisia’s role in regional trade.
In addition to the trade corridor, Abid discussed various initiatives aimed at improving trade facilitation, including the activation of the World Trade Organization’s trade facilitation agreement and restructuring the Easy Export programme.
He also mentioned plans to review the laws governing foreign trade and the legal framework for the Export Promotion Fund, as well as measures to organise distribution channels more effectively.
By advancing these programmes, the Tunisian government aims to create a more robust trading environment that encourages exports and fosters economic growth, highlighting the critical role that regional cooperation plays in achieving these objectives.