Tunisia Commercial Guide
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Tunisia Table of Contents Doing Business in Tunisia ______________________________ 7 Market Overview __________________________________ 7 Market Challenges _________________________________ 8 Market Opportunities _______________________________ 10 Market Entry Strategy _______________________________ 12 Political Environment ________________________________ 13 Political Environment _______________________________ 13 Selling US Products & Services ___________________________ 14 Using an Agent to Sell U.S. Products and Services _______________ 14 Establishing an Office _______________________________ 14 Franchising _____________________________________ 15 Direct Marketing __________________________________ 16 Joint Ventures/Licensing _____________________________ 16 Selling to the Government _____________________________ 16 Distribution & Sales Channels___________________________ 18 Express Delivery __________________________________ 19 Selling Factors & Techniques ___________________________ 19 eCommerce _____________________________________ 19 Overview ______________________________________ 19 Current Market Trends_______________________________ 20 Domestic eCommerce (B2C) ____________________________ 20 Cross-Border eCommerce _____________________________ 20 B2B eCommerce __________________________________ 20 eCommerce Services _________________________________21 eCommerce Intellectual Property Rights ______________________21 Popular eCommerce Sites ______________________________21 Online Payment____________________________________21 Mobile eCommerce __________________________________21 Digital Marketing__________________________________ 22 Major Buying Holidays _______________________________ 22 Social Media_____________________________________ 22 Trade Promotion & Advertising __________________________ 22 Pricing ________________________________________ 23 2 Sales Service/Customer Support _________________________ 23 Protecting Intellectual Property _________________________ 24 Due Diligence ____________________________________ 24 Local Professional Services ____________________________ 25 Principle Business Associations _________________________ 25 Limitations on Selling US Products and Services ________________ 25 Web Resources ___________________________________ 25 Leading Sectors for U.S. Exports & Investments__________________ 26 Electrical Power Systems and Renewable Energy ________________ 26 Overview ______________________________________ 26 Leading Sub-Sectors ________________________________ 26 Opportunities ____________________________________ 27 Web Resources ___________________________________ 28 Agricultural Sector _________________________________ 28 Overview ______________________________________ 28 Agriculture Trade __________________________________ 29 Opportunities ____________________________________ 29 Web Resources ___________________________________ 30 Construction/Architecture/Engineering Services ________________ 30 Overview ______________________________________ 30 Opportunities _____________________________________31 Web Resources ___________________________________ 32 Aircraft/Airport Ground Support/Aeronautics __________________ 32 Overview ______________________________________ 32 Opportunities ____________________________________ 33 Web Resources ___________________________________ 33 Automotive Parts/Services/Equipment ______________________ 34 Overview ______________________________________ 34 Leading Sub-Sectors ________________________________ 34 Opportunities ____________________________________ 35 Web Resources ___________________________________ 35 Telecommunications Equipment/Services ____________________ 35 Overview ______________________________________ 35 Leading Sub-Sectors ________________________________ 37 Opportunities ____________________________________ 37 Web Resources ___________________________________ 37 Safety and Security _________________________________ 37 3 Overview ______________________________________ 37 Opportunities ____________________________________ 38 Web Resources ___________________________________ 38 Insurance ______________________________________ 38 Overview ______________________________________ 38 Opportunities ____________________________________ 40 Web Resources ___________________________________ 40 Pollution Control Equipment ___________________________40 Overview ______________________________________ 40 Opportunities ____________________________________ 42 Web Resources ___________________________________ 42 Customs, Regulations & Standards _________________________ 42 Trade Barriers ___________________________________ 42 Import Tariffs ___________________________________ 43 Import Requirements & Documentation _____________________44 Labeling/Marking Requirements _________________________44 U.S. Export Controls ________________________________44 Temporary Entry __________________________________44 Prohibited & Restricted Imports _________________________45 Customs Regulations________________________________45 Standards for Trade ________________________________45 Overview ______________________________________ 45 Standards ______________________________________ 45 Testing, inspection and certification _______________________ 45 Publication of technical regulations _______________________ 46 National Institute of Standards and Technology’s (NIST) Notify U.S. Service 46 Contact Information ________________________________ 46 Trade Agreements _________________________________46 Licensing Requirements for Professional Services _______________ 47 Web Resources ___________________________________ 47 Investment Climate Statement ___________________________48 Executive Summary ________________________________48 1. Openness To, and Restrictions Upon, Foreign Investment _________49 Policies Towards Foreign Direct Investment ___________________ 49 Other Investment Policy Reviews _________________________ 50 Business Facilitation _________________________________51 4 Outward Investment _________________________________51 2. Bilateral Investment Agreements and Taxation Treaties __________ 51 3. Legal Regime ___________________________________ 52 Transparency of the Regulatory System _____________________ 52 International Regulatory Considerations _____________________ 53 Legal System and Judicial Independence _____________________ 53 Laws and Regulations on Foreign Direct Investment ______________ 53 Competition and Anti-Trust Laws ________________________ 54 Expropriation and Compensation _________________________ 54 Dispute Settlement _________________________________ 55 Bankruptcy Regulations ______________________________ 56 4. Industrial Policies ________________________________56 Investment Incentives _______________________________ 56 Foreign Trade Zones/Free Ports/Trade Facilitation _______________ 57 Performance and Data Localization Requirements _______________ 57 5. Protection of Property Rights _________________________58 Real Property ____________________________________ 58 Intellectual Property ________________________________ 58 6. Financial Sector _________________________________59 Capital Markets and Portfolio Investment ____________________ 59 Money and Banking System ____________________________ 60 Foreign Exchange and Remittances________________________ 61 Sovereign Wealth Funds ______________________________ 63 7. State Owned Enterprises ____________________________ 63 Privatization Program _______________________________ 63 8. Responsible Business Conduct _________________________64 9. Corruption ____________________________________65 10. Political and Security Environment______________________ 67 11. Labor Policies and Practices __________________________ 67 12. OPIC and Other Investment Insurance Programs ______________68 13. Foreign Direct Investment and Foreign Portfolio Investment Statistics _68 14. Contact for More Information on the Investment Climate Statement __ 70 Trade & Project Financing ______________________________ 71 Methods of Payment ________________________________ 71 Banking Systems __________________________________ 71 Foreign Exchange Controls ____________________________ 72 5 U.S. Banks & Local Correspondent Banks ____________________ 72 Project Financing __________________________________ 72 Multilateral Development Banks: _________________________ 74 Financing Web Resources _____________________________ 74 Business Travel ____________________________________ 76 Business Customs _________________________________ 76 Travel Advisory ___________________________________ 76 Visa Requirements _________________________________ 76 Currency _______________________________________ 76 Telecommunications/Electric ___________________________ 77 Transportation ___________________________________ 77 Language ______________________________________ 78 Health ________________________________________ 78 Local Time, Business Hours and Holidays ____________________ 78 Temporary Entry of Materials or Personal Belongings _____________80 Travel Related Web Resources __________________________80 INTERNATIONAL COPYRIGHT, U.S. & FOREIGN COMMERCIAL SERVICE AND U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE, 2017. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED OUTSIDE OF THE UNITED STATES. 6 Doing Business in Tunisia Market Overview According to the U.S. International Trade Commission, in 2016 Tunisia was the United States’ 85th largest goods export market. Bilateral trade in goods reached $915.8 million, with U.S. exports to Tunisia totaling $524.2 million. Top U.S. export categories