France and Tunisia will sign a declaration of intent to initiate a dialolgue in the digital sector, French Prime Minister Jean Castex said Wednesday in Tunis.
The goal of this declaration is to promote cooperation in the digital sector and share experiences between the two countries, Castex said at the closing of the Tunisian-French business meeting held at the headquarters of the Tunisian Confederation of Industry, Trade and Handicrafts (UTICA), under the theme of «Tunisian-French partnership for a regional innovation platform.
Castex said many leading French companies in the digital sector intend to take part in this dialogue, affirming his country’s commitment to supporting Tunisia’s digital strategy.
Jean Castex expressed France’s willingness to help Tunisia increase its integration into European value chains. «Tunisia enjoys many advantages including its geographical proximity to Europe, its creative youth as well as the language and values shared with France,» he said.
He stressed that France will continue supporting Tunisia’s reforms which aim to increase its attractiveness, enhance its business climate and create wealth.
“I would like to welcome the reform plan submitted to the International Monetary Fund (IMF). This plan is very important for both Tunisia and the Tunisian-French partnership while respecting its sovereignty,» he pointed out.
The French Prime Minister urged Tunisian investors to choose France as their destination for investment and develop their projects, hailing the fact that Tunisia was the first African investor in France in 2020.
Prime Minister Hichem Mechichi called on national and foreign investors to invest in Tunisia, expressing his government’s commitment to support them and lift all obstacles in the business field.
With nearly 1400 companies employing more than 150 thousand people, France remains the leading foreign investor in Tunisia, according to data published by UTICA.
The French Prime Minister Jean Castex is on a two-day official visit (June 2-3 ) on the occasion of the third French-Tunisian High Council for Cooperation.
Every two years, this gathering brings together the two Prime Ministers and ministers from both countries to discuss cooperation issues.
Several partnership agreements and memorandums of understanding are due to be signed at the end of the French-Tunisian High Council for Cooperation. They will concern the fields of the economy, justice, defence, security, higher education and scientific research.

Source: TAP News Agency