The Export Promotion Centre (CEPEX) plays a leading role in strengthening Tunisian exports and their positioning within global value chains, said Friday Mourad Ben Hasine, CEO of CEPEX.
In a statement to the media at the ceremony celebrating the birth of the centre on April 14, 1973, the official said that despite the difficult national and global situation, Tunisian exports have increased by 9.10% during the first quarter of 2023, or 7.15614 million dinars.
He also recalled that CEPEX has a financial envelope estimated at 100 million dinars to support exporters.
This amount, explains the official, is distributed according to the files submitted to the centre, in addition to 10 million dinars mobilised as a budget for participation in international events.
During this meeting, the Tunisia Export Team was launched after the signing of its working charter by various parties such as the Tunisian Confederation of Industry, Trade and Handicrafts (UTICA), the Tunisian Confederation of Citizen Enterprises (CONECT), the Tunisian Union of Agriculture and Fisheries (UTAP), CTN, Tunisair and the Foreign Investment Promotion Agency (FIPA).
In a statement to TAP, Lazhar Bennotur, Director General in charge of economic and commercial cooperation at the Ministry of Commerce, recalled that the initiative the Tunisia Export Team aims to combine efforts in the field of export and to ensure better coordination between all stakeholders to succeed in the scheduled events and visits of delegations, aiming at promoting exports in Tunisia and abroad.
UTICA President Samir Majoul mentioned the need to develop logistics services, improve the situation in the port of Rades and facilitate administrative and customs procedures to boost exports.
He also recommended activating sectoral strategies in the field of export, especially those related to the textile, automotive components, aircraft, food industries and other fields of activity.
The celebration of the 50th anniversary of CEPEX was an opportunity to pay tribute to the former CEOs of the House of the Exporter, as well as to 14 exporting companies, by highlighting their efforts to promote their export activities
Ben Hassine pointed out that the main barometer adopted to pay tribute to his companies, consists of the export profitability over the last five years, i.e. the volume of exports achieved during the period 2018-2022, in addition to the criteria of creativity and market diversification.
During this event, an exhibition was inaugurated under the theme “Half a century in the service of export” at the House of the Exporter. CEPEX’s mission is to promote exports in various fields and to help companies in this regard.
In this respect, more than 60 activities have been carried out each year, such as the organisation of fairs and exhibitions and business missions outside the country. Tunisian export earnings have multiplied by more than 341 times between 1973 and 2023, according to data from CEPEX, which has 15 representations abroad and two regional offices in Tunisia.
Source: Agence Tunis Afrique Presse