Trade between Tunisia and Algeria rose 166% over the past five years to about $2.76 billion, according to data presented by the Tunisian Export Promotion Centre’s representative office in Algeria at an economic meeting held during a business mission organised from Sept. 22 to 24 this year.
The meeting brought together businesspeople and representatives of Tunisian and Algerian professional organisations as part of a mission organised by CONNECT International in cooperation with the Algerian Confederation of Citizen Employers in Algiers and Blida, with support from the Tunisian Embassy in Algeria and the Export Promotion Centre.
Export and investment structure
Algeria ranks seventh among Tunisia’s largest export markets worldwide and fourth among Tunisia’s suppliers.
Mechanical and electrical industries account for about 56.53% of Tunisian exports to the Algerian market, followed by various manufacturing industries at 31.53%, and agriculture and food industries at 7.05%.
A total of 43 Tunisian companies operate in Algeria. Mechanical and electrical industries account for 30% of them, services for 23%, and the textiles and agriculture sectors 16% each.
Trade between the two countries benefits from customs reductions of up to 40% under the bilateral preferential trade agreement, in addition to customs exemptions under the Greater Arab Free Trade Area.
Opportunities in industrial and energy partnerships
The mission included Tunisian companies operating in industry, food industries, energy, building materials, services and the digital economy. It sought to explore cooperation opportunities in energy, renewable energy, photovoltaic solutions, plastics, wood, building materials and digital services.
The visit included direct meetings between Tunisian and Algerian companies to discuss their needs, expansion plans and opportunities to establish joint partnerships, as well as visits to industrial enterprises in Algiers and Blida.
The proposals under discussion included facilitating the import of components and car parts manufactured in Tunisia, while easing the entry of assembled Algerian vehicles ready for use into the Tunisian market.
Border crossings and exports to Africa
The recommendations included developing infrastructure at border crossings and storage facilities, accelerating the establishment of border free zones, and harmonising technical and regulatory standards between the two countries.
Participants discussed strengthening logistics coordination to support joint exports to African markets, particularly via the Trans-Sahara Highway, and using the land border to support joint production chains in the mechanical and electrical industries, agriculture, textiles and services.
