Republic of Tunisia
By: Hanna Mahmoud

The Arabs conquered North Africa in AD 647. By 1230, a separate Tunisian dynasty had been established by the Hafsids.

By 1574, Tunisia was incorporated into the Ottoman Empire, which lasted until 1922.

In 1881, Tunisia became a French protectorate. In 1907, the first organised resistance movement Jeunes Tunisiens (Young Tunisians) came into existence, which was later followed by the Dustur (Liberal Constitutional Party).

In 1956, Tunisia became independent with Habib Bourguiba as its first president.

In 1963, the French withdrew from Banzart base, their last foothold in Tunisia.

On 7 November 1987, Zine Al-Abidine Ben Ali was elected President according to the Constitution.

Location: Tunisia is a country of North Africa; it is bounded by Algeria to the west and southwest, Libya to the southeast, and the Mediterranean Sea to the east and north.

Total Area: 164,150 square km (63,378 square miles).
Climate & Temperatures: Tunisia enjoys moderate weather all year round with temperatures ranging from 28 degrees centigrade to 19 from October through May and averaging degrees 12 in wintertime. The temperature in Tunisia tends to decline as we approach the coast and to turn Saharan as we move southwards.

Population: 9.2 million (according to 1997 estimates).
Language: Arabic (official); French (commercial). Capital: Tunis.
Major cities: Banzart, Sfax, Sousse, Kairouan. Religion: Islam with small Christian and Jewish minorities.
Currency: Dinar = 1,000 millimes (valued at 0.9 dollar)
Flag: Red with a white circle inside of which lie a crescent and a star both red.
Form of government: A presidential republic.
Date of independence: 20 March, 1956.
Administrative division: 23 Welayat (provinces).
GNP: 20.9 billion dinars
Average per capita income: 2242 dinars per annum.
Annual growth rate: 5.4 per cent.
Inflation rate: 3.7 per cent.
Unemployment: Almost stabilised at 15.6 per cent.
Economy: Since 1992, Tunisia's growth rate has stabilised at 5 per cent and is expected to reach 6 per cent (the highest in Africa) by the end of 2001. The general budget deficit in the 1996-2000 plan has reached 2.8 per cent as against 7.3 per cent previously. The rate of foreign investments has also increased by 125 per cent in 2000 as compared to 1999 figures.

The most significant feature of Tunisia's experiment is the social element. The economic policies adopted have given rise a broad -base middle class stretching to include well over 80 per cent of the population. Poverty rate has also declined from 6 per cent in 1995 to 4 per cent in 2000.

Tunisian exports have multiplied over the past few years which is mostly due to improving the competitive edge of local products. A supreme council has been created, chaired by the president himself, which explores the mechanism best suited for marketing Tunisian exports abroad.

The agricultural sector:
Great attention is given to agriculture by the Tunisian government which seeks to achieve food -sufficiency and to generate more work opportunities. Tunisia has thus insured a 3.4-per-cent rate of growth in the agricultural sector. Short-term loans offered to farmers have also increased. It is to be noted that besides the 22 million job opportunities generated every season, this sector absorbs over half a million workers on a permanent basis.

Major crops and dairy produce:

These include wheat, barley and maize; beans, peas and lentils; potatoes , tomatoes and onions; olives and grapes; lemons and oranges; almonds and dates; apples and apricots; tobacco and sugar beet; beef and veal, butter and gee; cheese; cow milk, goat milk and sheep milk.

Tunisia's expanding fishing industry, centred on the eastern port city of Safx, also contributes to the country's exports.

The industrial sector:

According to the Tunisian minister of industry, the number of facilities which have been subjected to readjustment programmes are estimated at 1624. A 1608-million-dinar plan has been recently approved to readjust 863. Industrial facilities facing problems are put at 685 (according to 2000 figures. 35.2 per cent of industrial investments have gone to remote areas (a 30 per cent increase over 1999).

Investments in the energy sector are up 10.7 per cent and negotiations are ongoing with foreign investors to reduce oil refining production costs. The mining sector has achieved a 3.5 per cent growth in terms of added value and an increase in mining-specific investments of 11.1 per cent. In all, the industrial sector contributes some 29.6 per cent of Tunisia's GNP. Energy:
The sector achieved an overall surplus of 8 per cent in 1997.
Electricity:
Tunisia produces 8 billion kilowatts/hours of electricity 90 per cent of which originate from thermal plants.
Petroleum:
Production of petroleum in Tunisia decreased in 1997 for the fifth year running because of gradually declining reserves.
Natural Gas:

Natural gas production, according to 1997 figures, amounted to some 1653 million cubic metres. Reserves are estimated at around 3012 million cubic metres. Exports are put at 722 million cubic metres (most of which go to Italy). Processed industries:
It includes food industries; building material, pottery and crystals; mechanical industries; chemical industries; textiles; leather; petrochemicals. Traditional industries:
Traditional clothes; copper; wood craft; jewellery. Tourism:

In Tunis, the capital city, both the modern and the historical join hands. Carthage, yet another tourist city, boasts a number of Phoenician, Roman and Islamic sites. Sousse lies on the Mediterranean, a city upon which millions of tourists converge to enjoy its all-year superb weather. Other tourist sites in Tunisia include Tobruk, Sfax, Kairouan, Al Hammammat; Qafsa oasis and Nabul.

The number of tourists, who visited Tunisia in 2000 are estimated at 5 million. The number of Tunisians employed in the tourist sector is put at 75 thousand. State revenues from tourism have increased and are set at 2.1 billion dinars. New programmes have been set into motion whereby to introduce new cultural tourist products and improve safari tourism.

All in all, there are 620 hotels in Tunisia with an overall holding capacity of 90 thousand rooms, 180 thousand beds.