A memorandum of co-operation was signed on Wednesday in Tunis between the Tunisian Confederation of Industry, Trade and Handicrafts (UTICA) and the Austrian Federal Economic Chamber (WKO).
The memorandum signed at the Tunisian-Austrian forum held on the official visit paid by Austria’s President Heinz Fischer to Tunisia from January 20 to 21, 2016, governs the exchange of information between both organisations as well as visits and areas of co-operation such as research and development.
UTICA Executive Board member, Naceur Jeljli, suggested, in his remarks, reinventing another model of co-operation between Tunisia and the EU to establish a common area of peace, partnership and co-development.
President of the German Federal Economic Chamber (WKO) Christoph Leitl called on Tunisian companies to draw on the “successful” Austrian experience thanks to a policy that highlights aspects related to economic growth and quality.
Austria’s President Heinz Fischer said his visit to Tunisia will impact positively on economic co-operation and help increase business contacts between the two countries, calling for working together in the future.
Tunisia should focus on the fields of science and research in university to be able to reduce unemployment, he indicated, adding that Austria is among five countries in the EU with low unemployment rate.
Minister of Communication Technology and Digital Economy Noomen Fehri called on Austrian companies operating in Tunisia to increase their investment in their areas of activities, while moving more toward the field of information and communication technology (ICT), especially as 7% of the Tunisian economy is based on digital economy.