TUNIS, Nov 7 (NNN-TAP) — Foreign investment flows to Tunisia were up 18.9% by the end of September 2022 compared to the same period last year, according to data from the Foreign Investment Promotion Agency (FIPA).

These investments edged up 16.6% compared to the same period in 2020 and fell by 19.7% compared to 2019.

Tunisia drew foreign investments worth TND 1,645 billion by the end of September 2022, against TND 1,383.4 billion during the same period last year.

These investments are shared out between TND 5.6 million in portfolio (-69% compared to the same period in 2021) and TND 1,639.4 billion in foreign direct investments (+20% compared to 2021).

In terms of sectoral breakdown of foreign direct investments, the FIPA indicated that the manufacturing sector drew the most investments, reaching TND 879.7 million against TND 754.8 million during the same period in 2021.

The services sector saw a noteworthy rise of over TND 170 million, drawing foreign investments worth TND 376 million against TND 200.8 million last year, the agency specified.

Investments in the agricultural sector were low, standing at TND 6 million compared to TND 5.2 million in 2021.

Investments in the energy sector fell by 6.7% to TND 377.5 million.

Excluding energy, the FDI helped carry out 420 investment operations worth TND 1,261.9 billion, generating 11,718 direct jobs. The investment operations included 53 new projects worth TND 71.6 million which will help create 2,456 direct jobs.

The remaining 367 extension projects, worth TND 1,190.3 billion, will generate 9,262 jobs.

France is still the first foreign investor in Tunisia (TND 436 million), followed by Qatar (TND 283.1 million), Italy (TND 167.3 million), Germany (TND 106.3 million) and Japan (TND 44.1 million).

Source: NAM NEWS NETWORK