Saudi Arabia and Tunisia: Talks to enhance economic and industrial integration
His Excellency the Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources, Mr. Bandar bin Ibrahim Al-Khorayef, held an expanded meeting today in Riyadh with His Excellency the Minister of Economy and Planning of the Republic of Tunisia, Dr. Samir Abdelhafid, on the sidelines of the 12th session of the Saudi-Tunisian Joint Committee. This meeting comes within the framework of ongoing efforts to strengthen fraternal ties and propel economic cooperation between the two brotherly countries towards broader horizons.
Promoting economic and industrial integration
During the meeting, the two sides discussed ways to enhance economic and industrial integration, reviewing available investment opportunities in both countries. The meeting also explored expanding cooperation in several vital strategic economic sectors, as well as addressing challenges that exporters and investors may face and developing appropriate solutions to address them promptly. This aims to increase trade volume and growth in bilateral trade, thereby achieving the sustainable development goals of Riyadh and Tunis.
The importance of the Saudi-Tunisian Joint Committee
The proceedings of the twelfth session of the Saudi-Tunisian Joint Committee are of particular importance given the economic transformations underway in the region. This committee is considered one of the most effective mechanisms for implementing the directives of the leadership in both countries to strengthen their strategic partnership. The meeting highlighted the committee's pivotal role in bridging economic perspectives, commending the efforts of the working groups and representatives of government entities from both sides, which resulted in the inclusion of up to 100 topics in the committee's minutes, reflecting a strong desire to expand the scope of cooperation.
Promising strategic sectors
The discussions covered 15 areas of cooperation across several strategic sectors that serve the interests of both countries, most notably:
- The energy and industry sector.
- The mining and mineral resources sector.
- Logistics and transportation services.
- Intra-regional trade and export development.
- Human resource development and training.
The focus on these sectors is in line with the objectives of the Kingdom’s Vision 2030, which seeks to diversify sources of income and enhance non-oil exports, and this aligns with the Tunisian government’s aspirations to attract investments and stimulate economic and industrial activity.
High-level attendance
The meeting was attended by a number of leaders and officials, including His Excellency the Assistant Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources for Planning and Development, Dr. Abdullah Al-Ahmari, His Excellency the CEO of the Saudi Export-Import Bank, Engineer Saad Al-Khalab, and the Ambassador of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques to the Republic of Tunisia, Dr. Abdulaziz Al-Saqr, in addition to a number of officials from both countries.
It is worth noting that the committee's work focused largely on strengthening bilateral cooperation not only in economic aspects, but also extended to include the judiciary, justice, and media, which confirms the comprehensiveness and historical depth of Saudi-Tunisian relations.
