This is what emerges from a panel on strengthening tripartite relations, as part of Financing Investment and Trade in Africa
The fifth edition of “Financing Investment and Trade in Africa” (FITA 2022) continues for the second consecutive day, under the high patronage of the President of the Republic, Kaïs Saïed, in one of the hotels in the capital, Tunis. Organized by Tunisia Africa Business Council (TABC) and placed under the theme “The decade of all challenges”, the event aims to integrate Africa into the dynamics of global growth and support its development.
To do this, a round table on the triangular relations between Tunisia, Korea, and Africa was held on Thursday in the presence of the South Korean ambassador to Tunisia, the president of the Korea-Africa Foundation, the Tunisian Minister of Industry, Energy and Mines, Neïla Nouira Gonji, the President of the Tunisian-Korean Chamber of Commerce, Slim Sallemi and the President of TABC, Anis Jaziri.
In a speech given at the beginning of the panel, Jaziri said he was honored to receive such a large Korean delegation, recalling that the last meeting between the Tunisian-African Business Council and Koreans dated from December 2021 and concerned the elaboration of this same edition, which saw the light of day on May 25 and 26, 2022.
“You have taken a lot of risks by betting on Africa, Tunisia, and TABC. I hope you are satisfied today as 500 African, Asian and European CEOs have come from 45 countries to attend this meeting. you pan-African and international high-level,” he added.
He also expressed his gratitude for South Korea which chose Tunisia as a gateway to Africa, hoping that the members of the delegation, which numbered around 80 people, will be even more numerous next time.
“TABC is ready to collaborate with the Tunisian-Korean Chamber of Commerce to support it in future investments and ensure the success of the next deadlines”, he underlined.
For his part, the president of the Tunisian-Korean Chamber of Commerce, Slim Sallemi, thanked his partners for having shown great interest as well as for the success of FITA, calling on them to raise the level of cooperation within the framework of mutual respect and to seek the most effective and efficient means for better collaboration.
– Seize the potential of tripartite cooperation and make it fruitful
Speaking as part of this panel, the Tunisian Minister of Industry, Energy, and Mines, Neïla Nouira Gonji, welcomed the presence of the Koreans, which contributes to the development of bilateral relations between the two countries and strengthening the Tunisia-Africa-South Korea triangular cooperation.
“Your presence is a commitment that constitutes a new form of partnership, particularly with a view to developing the public and private sectors in a win-win approach alongside government actions,” said the Minister, noting that Africa is facing thorny challenges such as food and demographic security, water resources, climate change, and unemployment. These have been, according to her, exacerbated by the health crisis caused by Covid-19, on the one hand, and by the Russian-Ukrainian crisis which has destabilized the world economy, on the other hand.
“We take particular interest in this tripartite cooperation, which represents an opportunity for investors, donors, and governments. We have a strong bond of friendship with South Korea and share the same values such as democracy and justice. ‘commitment to peace,’ she said, ensuring that she had all the assets to strengthen Africa’s position as a platform for investment.
“A great potential exists. We must seize it and make it bear fruit,” she concluded, stressing the importance of the Tunisia-Korea-Africa triangularity.
More than 3,500 experts, business leaders, and political and economic personalities participated, on Tuesday, in the fifth edition of the International Conference “Financing Investment and Trade in Africa” (FITA 2022), which is being held on May 25 and 26, 2022, in one of the most prestigious hotels in the capital Tunis.
Present for the start of FITA’s work, the Head of Government, Najla Bouden, delivered an inaugural address just before the holding of numerous panels on the themes, among others, of post-Covid economic recovery, energy financing, infrastructure, education, and digitalization.
It should be noted that on the sidelines of the opening ceremony, the entrepreneur of the year prize was awarded to the CEO of the Startup InstaDeep, the Tunisian Karim Beguir, while that of the ambassador of the year was won by the Tunisian ambassador to Norway, Amel Ben Younes. A third prize was awarded to the president of the Azalai Group, Masadock Bally from Mali, named African entrepreneur of the year.
