TunisiA a performing aerospace supply chain new TUNISIA new opportunities
A booming industry with a track of success stories Over the last decade, the aerospace industry in Tunisia has experienced a tremendous expansion. This is telling about the undeniable competitiveness facilitated by several assets. More than 4,500 employment positions 55 totally exporting companies Exports worth 170 million Tunisian dinars, with forecasts of about 550 million Tunisian dinars by the year 2016. Several leading groups have chosen Tunisia to expand their business in the aerospace and aircraft industries. Tunisian exports account for two thirds of production and are intended for one of the most competitive markets, namely the European Union. France is the first client of Tunisia. The activities of the Tunisian aerospace industry have high value added. They range from software and hardware engineering to production of aircraft systems and high precision turning and machining. Main exported products are: electrical sets electronic components aerospace equipment and systems wiring harnesses: wiring, assembly of electronic subsets precision mechanical parts sheet metal parts technical plastic parts software surface treatment Tunisian dinar 1 = Euro 0.527 = USD 0.698 (average 2010)
Skilled human resources and rich training programs In Tunisia, the aerospace industry can rely on the 4,500 engineers and technicians that graduate annually and it is expected that by 2014, they will be 9,000. They represent one of the most competitive talent pools of the region: at comparable levels of qualification, Tunisia offers competitive wage costs in proportions ranging from 1 to 5 compared to European countries. These human resources are available, responsive and multidisciplinary thanks to: the 15 sectoral training centers to international standards, Aviation Training Center of Tunisia, International Center for Aviation Resources, the training facilities that offer a comprehensive program tailored to business needs, Engineering Schools, Higher Institutes of Technical Studies, National Institute of Applied Sciences, Ecole Polytechnique, Institute for Aerospace Trades, the proposed creation of a Centre of Excellence for Aerospace Professionals who will provide a training capacity of 1,000 people, the creation of a training center dedicated to the aerospace sector in the Mghira industrial zone, specializing in mechanics, electronics and information technology. Statement What encouraged most our development in Tunisia is the education level of people with qualifications that are almost equal to those of Europe, their ability to be trained, and their capacity to respect very specific work instructions of the aerospace industry. Gaby LOPEZ, Director General, ZODIAC AEROSPACE Tunisia
A good entrepreneurial environment In Tunisia, the aerospace sector is a real investment opportunity to be seized by companies looking for better performance. They will enjoy a good business environment thanks to: a highly innovating Tunisian industrial sector with strong expertise and supported by about 1,000 companies operating in the sectors of mechanics, electricity and electronics, industrial quality modernization and upgrading program which allowed the certification of more than half of companies operating in the aerospace industry, a rate well above the certification average, made possible thanks to the programs funded by the State. Fast growing dedicated infrastructures The airport, port, road and telecommunication infrastructure in Tunisia is considered among the most modern in the southern shore of the Mediterranean and in Africa. Tunisia also has about a hundred industrial zones and 10 competitiveness poles including that of Sousse (centre of Tunisia), specializing in mechanical and electronic industries as well as the Aeropole in El Mghira, an area dedicated exclusively to the aerospace industry. The Aeropole in El Mghira is an integrated industrial platform, located in the southern suburbs of Tunis, which covers an area of over 200 hectares including 20 hectares dedicated to the Aerospace Park AEROLIA, a subsidiary of the European aerospace group EADS, which has chosen Tunisia to establish fourth site specializing in the construction of aircraft components and its first outside Europe after those of Meaulte, Saint Nazaire and Toulouse. Statement Among the parameters that have encouraged us to setup our operations in Tunisia, There are of course competitiveness, proximity to our European markets, reliability, quality of infrastructure and facilities in Tunisia and then also the willingness of the Tunisian State to develop a high-tech industry particularly focused on aerospace industry. Christian FORGER, Director, HUTCHINSON
A supportive infrastructure for investors The Tunisian Association of Aerospace and Aviation Industries (GITAS) supports manufacturers and investors in the aerospace branch. There are currently 33 member companies (compared to 19 in 2009). GITAS is very active and present at all levels; its main objectives are to promote exchanges and cooperation between enterprises of the aviation and aerospace field located in Tunisia, to develop a logistics network and an enabling environment and encourage the establishment of new companies in the field. There are also several national institutions that provide active support and assistance to investors efficiently: the Foreign Investment Promotion Agency (FIPA-Tunisia), the Agency for the Promotion of Industry and Innovation (APII), the Center for Export Promotion (CEPEX) and the Technical Center for Mechanical and Electronic Industries (CETIME). A favorable business environment Tunisia already offers foreign investors the following incentives: freedom to invest in the sector of aerospace components. Foreign investors can hold up to 100% of the project capital and can freely repatriate profits and proceeds from sale of the capital invested in foreign currencies, simple establishment procedures. They can be made at the one-stop desks the Agency for the Promotion of Industry and Innovation APII, an investment incentives code which provides several advantages in terms of tax and duties exemption and in terms of subsidy and investment incentives in particular for the establishment in areas of regional development, an association agreement with the European Union that led to a free trade area since January 2008, preferential trade agreements with North African and Arab countries, bilateral agreements establishing a free trade zone with Turkey, Egypt, Morocco, Jordan, Iraq and Libya and Agadir free trade agreement between Jordan, Egypt, Morocco and Tunisia. In addition, the Tunisian Revolution of January 2011 introduced the premises for a real takeoff of the national economy and accordingly sees promising future in the aviation industry supported by a healthier business climate with greater transparency, better governance and less corruption and encouraging private initiative. AEROSPACE Meetings, Tunisia 2012 24 th - 27 th September, 2012
FIPA-Tunisia, your partner for success The Foreign Investment Promotion Agency FIPA-Tunisia is a public structure created in 1995. FIPA-Tunisia has been certified ISO 9001 version 2008; it is mandated to provide the support required by foreign investors and to promote foreign investment in Tunisia. FIPA-Tunisia and its offices abroad form a comprehensive network: information on investment opportunities in Tunisia and the main reasons why Tunisia is such an attractive site for FDI, contacts in Tunis or abroad, advice on the conditions that will contribute to the success of initiatives, the best locations, various investment systems, financing means, accompanying the investor on exploratory visits to Tunisia and throughout the various implementation phases of the initiative, support to improve the sustainability of a company, through personalized monitoring and ongoing assistance with ministerial departments and structures and regional authorities. London Madrid Brussels Paris Cologne Tunis Milan Tokyo Foreign Investment Promotion Agency Tunis Rue Salaheddine El Ammami Centre Urbain Nord. 1004 Tunis Tel.: (216-71) 75 25 40 Fax: (216-71) 23 14 00 E-mail: fipa.tunisia@fipa.tn Cologne Hohenstaufenring 44-46 50674 Köln Tel.: (49-221) 240 33 46 240 33 47 Fax: (49-221) 240 34 46 E-mail: fipacologne@t-online.de London 63-66 Hatton Garden London EC1N 8LE Tel.: (44-207) 430 13 15 Fax: (44-207) 430 14 00 E-mail: london@fipa.co.uk Milan Via M. Gonzaga, 5 (Piazza Missori) - 20123 Milano Tel.: (39-02) 80 92 97 80 92 98 Fax: (39-02) 80 93 53 E-mail: fipatunisiamilano@tin.it Paris 8, rue de la Bienfaisance 75008 Paris Tel.: (33-1) 45 22 68 57 Fax: (33-1) 45 22 68 53 E-mail: apie.tunisie@wanadoo.fr C/R SERVICED 71 86 12 19 2011 Brussels 31/33, rue Montoyer, Bte 4-1000 Brussels Tel.: (32-2) 512 93 27 Fax: (32-2) 511 17 57 E-mail: fipa1.tunisie@scarlet.be Madrid Avenida Alfonso XIII, 68 Madrid-28016, España Tel.: (34-91) 510 48 47 Fax: (34-91) 510 48 95 E-mail: fipa-madrid@telefonica.net Tokyo Embassy of the Republic of Tunisia 102-0074 千 代 田 区 九 段 南 3-6-6 Tel.: (81-3) 511 66 22 Fax: (81-3) 511 66 99 E-mail: fipa_tokyo@tunisia.or.jp www.investintunisia.tn