This thread will be dedicated for all the Tunisian real estate investments

Gulf Finance House (GFH) announced its plan to set up the Tunis Financial Harbour (TFH) at Tunis Bay.

Bahrain: Monday, December 17 - 2007 at 17:00With an estimated development value of approximately $3bn, Tunis Financial Harbour marks the entry of GFH and its Clients into Tunisia, as it positions itself as one of the largest foreign investors in the country.

To be located in the Raoued North, Tunis and just 25 minutes from the Tunis Carthage airport, the Tunis Financial Harbour was formally unveiled to His Excellency Zine El Abidine Ben Ali, President of Tunisia at a special ceremony held in Presidential Carthage Place Tunisia. A Memorandum of Understanding between Gulf Finance House and the Government of Tunisia was signed earlier this year.

A member country of the World Trade Organization (WTO), Tunisia has been ranked as the most competitive country in North Africa by the World Economic Forum in the 2007 edition of its Global Competitiveness Report. It is also the first country on the southern coast of the Mediterranean to have concluded a partnership and cooperation agreement with the European Union, the main component of which is the establishment of a free-trade zone. Since 1987, it has recorded an average growth rate of 5% per annum.

Mr. Esam Janahi, Chairman, Gulf Finance House, said

'The Tunisian economy has been constantly outperforming the African average, with the country's per capita GDP being amongst the highest in Africa, driven by foreign direct investment. This growth along with progressive and proactive government has made Tunisia a very attractive investment destination for us. We thank the Tunisian government for its support.''The country could benefit from developing its offshore financial services industry and creating a world-class International Financial Centre for North Africa. Tunis Financial Harbour has been created by some of the world's leading financial services strategists and utilises a business cluster model. We are confident that TFH will make a significant contribution to the Tunisian economy in the long term, and will be seen as a strategic component of Tunisia's economic infrastructure.'

Elaborating on GFH's involvement in the project and its planned components, Mr. Peter Panayiotou, Acting Chief Executive Officer, GFH, said: 'GFH is focused on expanding its horizons globally with a particular focus on emerging economies with strong growth potential. Simultaneously, the Bank is also focused on consolidating its position in the wider MENA region by tapping into specific opportunities, with the Tunis Financial Harbour project being the latest venture.'

'Having successfully developed and launched a world-class financial district in Bahrain, we were confident of replicating this success in North Africa. Apart from the economic drivers behind this decision, Tunisia's ability to provide talented human resources, with the country reporting relatively high investments in higher education as a proportion of GDP, was a key factor that prompted us to choose Tunisia as the location for our first financial harbour in North Africa.'

'Tunis Financial Harbour will comprise four key clusters, in addition to hosting a wide array of professional and other support service firms. The clusters at will include, a Corporate Centre, an Investment Banking and Advisory Centre, an Insurance and Takaful Centre and an Exchange,' Mr. Panayiotou added.

To be spread over a total site area of 450 hectares and as per initial development plan, Tunis Financial Harbour will consist of a marina and a commercial cum residential complex of luxurious villas, commercial/ business developments, a golf course and a stadium. The project will also contain a world-class business school. It is estimated that Tunis Financial Harbour will create thousands of jobs, and bring in billions of dollars to the overall Tunisian economy.

http://www.investintunisia.tn/site/en/home.php?id_article=848

http://www.dailymotion.com/search/Tunesien/video/x2x1io_lac-de-tunis-projekt-dubai-sama_creation?from=rss

A huge luxury real estate investment on the Lac du Sud of the Tunisian capital Tunis. This project covers an area of 830 hectares and will comprise the construction of an ultra-modern new city with many skyscrapers, hotels, residential complexes, cultural and leisure complexes, a marina and many shopping malls. As for Tunisia, this will be the most important investment and project in its history. The costs for this project are estimated at $14bn. The construction works have already commenced in August 2007, the completion of the project will take about 15 years. The first phase will be ready by 2012. This new city will be home to up to 500.000 people and will create 130.000 new jobs for young Tunisians.

Issue No 237 - 07 Aug 2007

Sama Dubai,the property unit of Dubai Holding, will start work on a $14 billion luxury real estate development north of Tunis in the next few months, a senior executive said.


''Work on the project will begin in the next few months.The scheme is very important so it will be done in stages.It demands 10 years to be finished. The first buildings will be ready in two years,'' said Mohammad Al Gergawi,CEO of Dubai Holding.


The Century City and Mediterranean Gate is a joint investment venture between Sama Dubai and the Tunisian government.


The project,Tunisia's biggest investment deal,will include apartments, theatres,cinemas,offices and hotels covering 837 hectares (2,092 acres).The project will also house the headquarters of some 2,500 international financial firms and companies in addition to 14 hotels and sports and entertainment facilities.


The project was unveiled by the UAE Vice-President and Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai Shaikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum and Tunisian President Zain Al Abdeen bin Ali on August 6 at night.


Shaikh Mohammed and the Tunisian president inspected the site of the project after unveiling a plaque.


Tunisia is eager to increase foreign investment flow to spur growth and cut the unemployment rate,which is officially at 14.3 percent.


Sama Dubai's Tunis project will create 140,000 jobs,Gergawi said.


The government-owned Dubai Holding expects to raise investment in Tunisia to $18 billion in the near future versus $3 billion currently:Trade Arabia News

The Adviser Mag - Tunisia


Work of construction of the new city, Tunis-Sports-City, started in waterspout. It should be believed that for the Boukhater Group time it is money, therefore as soon as known as as soon as made.


Indeed the technical studies have quite advanced; however the initial concept evolved/moved in the good direction: more parks than envisaged, a better integration of the various entities which make the city...


Realities got in preview the innovations relative to this méga-project.


The popular passion without precedent raised by the international sporting competitions makes that several financial, advertising, national stakes... turn around certain disciplines which imply pointed formal trainings henceforth, meticulous and scientific preparations physical and psychological, therefore a suitable framework of life: national teams and large European and means-Eastern professional clubs could flow to the day before of the competitions.


A single and original concept


Gilded premature retirements, retirements, search for a better framework of life at the same time sporting, tourist and cultural, without being inactive, plead in favour of a new style of life. It is the basic concept of Tunis Sports City, which integrates international sporting academies for the formation, sports grounds for the drives, activities nautical on the banks of the Lake, greenery for the environmental quality, shopping centres, residences of luxury but also golf course and swimming pools for the relaxation and the exercise.


All that near an international airport with 1h30 or 2h of flight of the European capitals and with 10 km of the downtown area of Tunis.


For a capital like Tunis and an emergent country like ours, this equipment and these activities are an unquestionable value added in terms of image, but also a real attribute in terms of financial, tourist regional center and services.


The initial concept knew a practical evolution


At the beginning the site was divided into three distinct entities: sporting academies with the stages which go with on the one hand, golf courses surrounded of luxeuses villas on the other hand, separated by an urban zone in sea front with large buildings for residences and services: 3,5 million square meters of covered frame.


This concept was re-examined and corrected in the direction of a better integration of the zones two by two.


Indeed it was decided, for a better coherence of the new city, to integrate the golf course into the sporting academies and other sports grounds on the one hand and on the other hand to integrate constructions of residences into the golf course: residences shelling itself with hillside and bank of the Lake.


The parks progress: 60% of the 250 hectares!


Wood existing, Kram side and GP9 (Tunis Road it Marsa), maintained, will be improved, protected, maintained and developed whereas new parks with plantations of trees are created to emphasize the quality of the site. One estimates, according to Mr. Lotfi Zaar, person in charge for the project Tunis Sports City, that the surfaces devoted to the parks will occupy 60% of the 250 hectares of the new city. Of course there will be the golf course but also the parks public and privative gardens... the wood and edges of roads, the parks of the stages and sports grounds.


An urbanization signal level with five types of residences


The experts of the Boukhater Group defined, taking into account waitings of the customer-target, that it is Tunisian or foreign, five types of housing, according to their dimensions and standings: studio with the villa of great luxury, while passing by the apartment of two or three rooms plus stay.


What is sure, according to assertions' of Mr. Lotfi Zaar, executive president of the Boukhatir Group in Tunisia, it is that they will be sold at market prices such as it is practised today in Tunisia by other promoters. For reasons of respect of the environment and in order to support the panorama for all, it was decided that the buildings in height will be in withdrawal of the face of lake, which will be reserved for low constructions.


Priority with the companies and Tunisian competences


For our country, the interest of such a project lies in the impact of the total investment on the growth of the GDP, but also in the creation of jobs for the people and the "procuration" of markets for the companies.


This is why we put several questions with the person in charge for the project, which affirmed that the priority for the attribution of the contracts of employments will be granted to the local companies and Tunisian competences, that does not prevent that it is called upon foreign experts and specialists, either to supplement or to accompany the Tunisian companies when it acts of pointed aspects and respect of the international standards in such or such field. It is obvious that quality, prices and references will be taken into account.


Stages of the course of the project


The final draft was presented and approved by President Ben Ali on September 19 and "the first blow of pickaxe" on November was given 2. It is to say how much in the Boukhater Group one is effective, fast and one does not waste time in useless tergiversations. No precipitation either, one takes time to study, then once the completed studies, one decides very quickly and one passes to the action.


No the search for effects of advertisement either: one realizes initially, one informs then, in a selective and targeted way.


Let us recall that before even conceiving the project, experts and persons in charge for the Boukhater Group came several times to Tunisia during one year to study very in-depth before making the decision to invest 5 billion DT on six to seven years; it is short but realizable.


It should be said that there is no land problem: property of the Company of promotion of the Lake, the ground of 250 hectares was bought and paid at market prices. A convention of investment is being negotiated final between the Tunisian authorities and the Boukhater Group; it is about to succeed.


As regards the planning of work: the technical studies carried out by a Tunisian engineering and design department known and référencié good are almost completed. Work relating to the installation of a golf 18 holes was started: eighteen months of work. It is promised that it will be of an exceptional beauty with water levels to the side of a hill which will be built for the circumstance.


In parallel work of infrastructure will be committed: drinking water supply, telephones, cleansing, connections electric, installation of roads, boring of channels and installations of small islands... In a second phase it will be the construction of the sports grounds then sporting academies: football, tennis, swimming pools Olympic, athletics... The third and last phase will be that of the construction of the residences, great surfaces, hotels, private clinics, schools, services public.


It is clear that for the hotels, private clinics, great surfaces, Boukhater will call upon the large international signs to invest and manage. What imports is the coherence of the whole as well as the respect of the signal level of the equipment and the quality of the services as well as the respect of the international standards.


A true open and integrated city


Tunis Sports City will be a city completely open on its environment and integrated: it will comprise all the services and equipment socio-collectives necessary to the everyday life of its inhabitants: residences, schools, transport, culture, safety, leisures, trade, offices, sports grounds, roads...


The number of residences which will be built is estimated at 10.000 and one discounts, once the completed city, 50.000 permanent residents.


The durable job which will be created within this city is estimated at 40.000 stations taking into account the services created: trade, maintenance and operation of the sports grounds and parks, offices, hotels, restaurants, coffees...


One also estimates at 80.000 daily visitors the frequentation of the city at ends tourist, sporting, leisures and culture.

It acts of one of the most important financial groups to the Plain Arab Emirates (seat with Sharjeh) with a great diversity of activities: sporting infrastructures, real estate, building firm, industries, media, schools, software... The group counts 26 companies and employs 15.000 worker. Its annual sales turnover is 4 billion dollars.


Boukhatir is very implied in various sports activities.


Taj Ltd television, located at MediaCity, manages in particular the chain Ten Sports whose audience is 55 million televiewers of the Middle East, India, Europe and Asia, its president is Mr. Abderrahman Boukhater, the vice-president is Salah Boukhater.

ADVISER-CARTHAGE, NOV. 23, 2007 (TAP) - President Zine el Abidine Ben Ali enquired, when receiving on Friday morning Chinese investor Li Ruo Hong, about the tourism, environment and health projects this international investment group is planning to carry out in the island of Zembra.


In this respect, indications were presented to the Head of State on the preliminary design of this project meant to develop one part of the island by creating a top-of-the-range tourist activity, concurrently with achieving a health project, while preserving the island's natural and ecological specificities and protecting its sites classified by UNESCO as world heritage.

It is expected that this project will contribute to generating a large number of jobs in the tourism and health sectors, as well as diversifying the national tourist product through the encouragement of ecological, cultural and health tourism.

http://www.export.gov/middleeast/country_information/tunisia/Tunisia_CCG_2006.pdf?id=116933&keyx=D5C727C6F5BC1523FC0A27BF25555552&dbf=ccg1&loadnav=no&archived=no&addid=

[QUOTE=Kairi;17205335]http://www.export.gov/middleeast/country_information/tunisia/Tunisia_CCG_2006.pdf?id=116933&keyx=D5C727C6F5BC1523FC0A27BF25555552&dbf=ccg1&loadnav=no&archived=no&addid=[

Une trés bonne nouvelle
TAP) - La Tunisie est classée à la 2ème place au plan international, après Singapour, en matière de maitrise des dépenses publiques. Elle devance ainsi plusieurs régions et pays développés ou émergents à travers le monde, à l'instar du Qatar, des Emirats arabes unis (EAU), de la Finlande, d'Oman, du Danemark, de Hong Kong, de l'Islande, de la Malaisie, de la Suisse, de la Hollande et de la France.

Ce classement a été établi à la lumière d'un sondage d'opinions effectué par le forum économique international de Davos auprès de 12297 chefs d'entreprises dans le monde afin de recueillir leurs impressions concernant "le rôle de l'Etat en matière de dépenses dans le domaine des services que le marché n'offre pas."

Les moyennes obtenues par les pays concernés à ce sujet varient de 1 (gaspillage des deniers publics) à 7 (excellente maitrise et bonne gestion de ces deniers). La Tunisie a, pour sa part, réalisé 5,6 points, ce qui l'a habilité à occuper la deuxième place à l'échelle internationale sur un total de 134 pays.

Ce classement reflète, selon M. Noureddine Zekri, directeur général de l'investissement extérieur au ministère du ministère du développment économique et de la coopération internationale, la réussite de l'approche tunisienne reposant sur la corrélation entre le social et l'économique.

La politique de développement en Tunisie a, en effet, accordé un intérêt accru au social à travers l'investissement dans toutes les étapes de l'enseignement, la santé, la formation professionnelle et l'emploi, outre les montants alloués pour subventionner les produits de base et les hydrocarbures, tout en poursuivant l'effort d'investissement dans les domaines de l'infrastructure de base.

Ces choix de développement sont à même de contribuer à préserver la paix sociale, garantir l'environnement propice à l'investissement et à la production et à consolider les facteurs de stabilité politique et sociale.

Ce classement est également le résultat des mesures que la Tunisie a adoptées en matière de maitrise de l'emprunt public et du déficit budgétaire, de rationalisation de la fiscalité, de préservation et de renforcement du revenu par habitant ainsi que dans les domaines de la promulgation de législations appropriées et la création de structures d'appui et de soutien à l'œuvre de développement social.

Le respect par la Tunisie de ses engagements au double plan intérieur et extérieur, sachant qu'elle n'a jamais eu recours au rééchelonnement de sa dette, a trouvé un écho favorable auprès des entreprises enquêtées qui ont confirmé la considération dont le pays bénéficie au plan international.

Le rapport du forum économique mondial de Davos pour la période 2008-2009 a classé la Tunisie parmi les 20 premiers pays dans le monde concernant 17 thèmes à savoir les bonnes décisions gouvernementales (14ème), la maîtrise des dépenses publiques (2), la rigidité des procédures et réglementations (16), la transparence des politiques publiques (15), la qualité de l'enseignement de base (21), les dépenses du secteur de l'enseignement (14), la qualité du système éducatif (17), la qualité de l'enseignement des matières scientifiques et des mathématiques (7), la qualité de la gestion des établissements de l'enseignement (17), l'impact de la fiscalité (21), les délais de création d'entreprises (19), le cout de la politique sectorielle agricole (4), l'impact des mesures de l'investissement extérieur direct sur l'environnement des affaires (16), la contribution de l'offre publique dans l'approvisionnement du marché (21), l'acquisition par le gouvernement des produits à la pointe de la technologie (3), la disponibilité de scientifiques et d'ingénieurs (10).

M. Noureddine Zekri a affirmé, dans un entretien à l'Agence Tunis Afrique Presse, que la Tunisie suit avec attention ses classements au plan international, ce qui l'incite à prendre les mesures nécessaires qui s'imposent afin de consolider les réalisations et d'instituer les réformes idoines au moment opportun. Il a fait savoir que la Tunisie peut améliorer son classement actuel qui n'a pas tenu compte des multiples décisions et mesures prises récemment lesquelles ont un impact positif et palpable sur les indicateurs de classement, à l'instar de la mise à niveau de l'enseignement, la loi sur l'initiative économique, la loi relative à la concession et le code de la douane.

Le classement international honorable de la Tunisie dans le domaine de la maîtrise des dépenses publiques a des significations profondes et des dimensions économiques et sociales certaines, mettant en relief les efforts consentis par la Tunisie dans le domaine de la bonne gestion et l'enracinement des règles de bonne gouvernance.

Tunisie : deuxième meilleur niveau de vie dans la région

Selon un rapport élaboré par International Living Magazine et cité par un quotidien libanais, la Tunisie a occupé la deuxième position dans la région du Moyen-Orient après Israël, dans l’index de la qualité de la vie. Elle a été suivie par la Maroc et en quatrième position la Jordanie et le Liban ex aequo.

International Living a établi ce classement à partir de 9 critères, à savoir le coût de la vie, la culture et les loisirs, l’économie, l’environnement, les libertés, la santé, l’infrastructure, la sécurité et le risque et enfin le climat. Pour chacune de ces catégories, chaque pays est noté sur 100, avec des notations de 10% pour chacun des critères, à l’exception des critères du coût de la vie et de l’économie qui ont un poids de 15%.