FDIs: 24.1% drop during first five months of 2011

Foreign direct investments (FDIs) reached, by the end of the first five months of 2011, a volume of 579.8 million dinars (MTD), against 763.9 MTD during the same period of last year, according to Foreign Investment Promotion Agency (FIPA), which represents a 24.1-per-cent drop. These investments are shared out between 552.2 MTD in FDIs and 27.6 MTD in business, against 732.2 MTD and 31.7 MTD, respectively, during the first five months of 2010. An analysis of the FDIs distribution in the manufacturing sector shows a strong attraction for the benefit of some activities. In this regard, the mechanical, electrical and electronic industries (MEEIs) are in leading positions, achieving 42 investment projects worth 40.8 MTD and creating 1,630 jobs, followed by the textile and clothing industries (37 new projects and creating 2,055 jobs). Consequently, the MEEIs and textiles are the ahead-pulling areas of FDIs attraction and exports. The chemicals and plastics industries recorded an increase in the FDIs flows by 76.7% and 40.2%, respectively, compared with the same period of 2010. The first five months of 2011 were marked by 66 new companies of a foreign participation which started producing, the achievement of 86 extension operations by foreign firms set up in Tunisia and the creation of 5,990 new jobs, including 4,665 in the manufacturing industries.