UNIDO ITPO Tokyo co-organized the online webinar titled ” Road To Tunisia: Investment Opportunities for Japan ” on December 21st, 2021.

The core purpose of the event was to provide Japanese companies, partners, and multinationals with an overview of the investment opportunity in key sectors, information on new advances and innovation in the Tunisian market, and the resilient sectors that prove favorable for investment between Japan and Tunisia.

FIPA opened the seminar and that was followed by his H.E. Elloumi, Ambassador of Tunisia, opening  message with a speech of “Welcome Remarks & Expectation for TICAD 8 as a Host County”. In his presentation, Ambassador Elloumi highlighted the strengths of Tunisia, which is strategically positioned as an ideal investment destination in mechanical, electronics, and automotive sectors followed by Software, IT, Textiles, and Pharmaceuticals for investors and multinationals alike. Saraya and Toray on the Japanese side also discussed the background of their investments and ongoing projects in Tunisia and their future expectations for Tunisia.

A panel discussion moderated by Mr. Yuko Yasunaga, Head of UNIDO ITPO Tokyo, welcomed five experts panelist among whom was the Japanese ambassador in Tunisia. The panelists exchange ideas and opinions about  “Partnerships & Initiatives in key sectors to advance the SDGs in Tunisia.” More importantly, in the panel discussion, the panelists further talked about projects and sectors they are currently supporting and planning to support with their purposes and directions, etc.

With the keen cooperation of the supporting organizations the webinar was positively completed with 157 participants from Africa, Asia, Europe, and the USA. The webinar was thus a great success as an introductory event to promote Foreign Direct Investment from Japan in the future. This further confirms forthcoming cooperation between Japan and Tunisia in the 8th Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD), which will be held in Tunisia in 2022.

Date & Time: Local Time (CET) December 21, 2021 at 7:00 – 8:40am
                      Japan Time (JST) December 21, 2021 at 15:00 – 16:40pm
Venue: Online delivery in use of Zoom with simultaneous interpretation
Admission: Free
Organizers: FIPA Tunisia (www.investintunisia.tn/En/home_46_33 )
                    The Embassy of the Republic of Tunisia in Japan  (https://www.facebook.com/TunisiaEmbassy.jp/ )
                     (https://www.diplomatie.gov.tn/fileadmin/user_upload/asie/tunisie-japon.pdf )
Sponsor: The IFC World Bank Group
Donor Funding: The European Union, The Swiss Federation
Cooperation: JCCME, JETRO, JICA, UNIDO ITPO Tokyo, Wavteq Ltd.

PROGRAM

Quick Introduction by Moderator 1: Dr. Henry Loewendahl from Wavteq Ltd.
15:00 – 15:05 Opening Remarks
Mr. Abdelbasset Ghanmi, Director General, FIPA Tunisia
15:05 – 15:10 Welcome Remarks
Mr. Alvarez De La Campa, Resident Representative, International Finance Corporation
15:10 – 15:20 Welcome Remarks & Expectations for TICAD 8 as a Host Country                                             
Mr. Mohamed Elloumi, Ambassador, Embassy of the Republic of Tunisia in Japan
15:20 – 15:40 Economic Outlook and Investment Opportunities in Tunisia.                                                     
Mr. Zied Lahbib, Senior Director, FIPA Tunisia
15:40 – 15:50 Benchmarking Study Comparing the Competitiveness of Countries in Europe and North Africa  Dr. Henry Loewendahl, Chief Executive Officer, Wavteq Ltd.
15:50 – 16:00  Experience (Success Story) in Tunisia
Ms. Saida Ben Slama, Director of Middle East and North African Business Affairs, Saraya Co., Ltd.
16:00 – 16:10 Experience (Success Story) in Tunisia
Mr. Masao Hirai, General Manager, Fibers & Industrial Materials Division, Toray Industries, Inc.
16:10 – 16:40 Panel Discussions: “Partnerships & Initiatives in key sectors to advance the SDGs in Tunisia” Moderator: Mr. Yuko Yasunaga, Head, UNIDO ITPO Tokyo
Panelists:

• Mr. Shinsuke Shimizu, Ambassador, Embassy of Japan in Tunisia
• Mr. Mohamed Elloumi, Ambassador, Embassy of the Republic of Tunisia in Japan
• Mr. Adbelbasset Ghanmi, Director General, FIPA Tunisia
• Dr. Balgis Osman Elasha, Chief Climate Change and Green Growth Specialist, Regional Coordinator, North Africa Regional Development and Business Delivery Centre, African Development Bank
• Ms. Akiko Komori, Director of Middle East Div. 1, Middle East and Europe Dept, JICA
  16:40 – 16:50 Q&As
  16:50 Closing Remarks

You can download the presentation materials from “Event Information” of KWBS website (www.kwbs-jp.com ).

Inquiry: Please contact below by e-mail.

UNIDO ITPO Tokyo: (itpo.tokyo@unido.org)

Masao Kumori : (m.kumori@kwbs-jp.com), KWBS Marketing & Trading Co., Ltd., an event secretariat.