Third Roundatable: Tunisia Ambassador: His Excellency Ghazi Jomaa Permanent Representative of Tunisia to the United Nations

Third Roundatable: Tunisia Ambassador: His Excellency Ghazi Jomaa Permanent Representative of Tunisia to the United Nations
Nueva York, 03/03/2011

Tunisia: Home of the ancient city of Carthage, the country has long been an important player in the Mediterranean, placed as it is in the centre of North Africa, close to vital shipping routes.

Ambassador Jomaa will discuss Tunisia’s progress in relation to the UN Millennium Development Goal’s and other pressing international and development topics affecting the country…

In their time, the Romans, Arabs, Ottoman Turks and French realized its strategic significance, making it a hub for control over the region.

French colonial rule ended in 1956, and the Tunisian Republic was led for three decades by Habib Bourguiba, who advanced secular ideas. These included emancipation for women – women’s rights in Tunisia are among the most advanced in the Arab world – the abolition of polygamy and compulsory free education. The country experienced relative stablilty under the leadership of President Zine al-Abidine Ben Ali since 1987. He stepped aside in January 2011 following widespread unrest.

Tunisia has a diverse economy, with important agricultural, mining, tourism, and manufacturing sectors. Governmental control of economic affairs while still heavy has gradually lessened over the past decade with increasing privatization, simplification of the tax structure, and a prudent approach to debt. Progressive social policies also have helped raise living conditions in Tunisia relative to the region.

Real growth, which averaged almost 5% over the past decade, declined to 4.6% in 2008 and to 3-4% in 2009-10 because of economic contraction and slowing of import demand in Europe – Tunisia’s largest export market. However, development of non-textile manufacturing, a recovery in agricultural production, and strong growth in the services sector somewhat mitigated the economic effect of slowing exports. Tunisia will need to reach even higher growth levels to create sufficient employment opportunities for an already large number of unemployed as well as the growing population of university graduates.

Topic: Ambassador Jomaa will discuss Tunisia’s progress in relation to the UN Millennium Development Goal’s and other pressing international and development topics affecting the country such as; new government, economy, tourism, environment and gender rights.

Location: GFDD office in NY
780 Third Avenue 19 th Floor | New York , NY 10017

Time: 1:00 PM

Date: March 21, 2011