The Tunisian-Japanese cooperation in information technology and communication (ICT), has been the focus of Pr. Tetsuo Ida who highlighted the potential partnership between both countries namely the dissemination of digital culture and hailed “major steps achieved by Tunisia during the 2 last decades” in a path of development and technological innovation.

He also stressed the high scientific level acquired by Tunisian expertise in this area which “earns the country a gretare respect for international academic landscape Pr. Adel Bouhoula, member of high-level committee for Science and Technology and the head of Research Unity “Digital Security”.

Through his lecture, Pr. Adel Bouhoula, member of high-level committee for Science and Technology and the head of Research Unity “Digital Security”, the Tunisian researcher presented solutions and prototypes of security and data transfer as well as communication networks.

Pr. Bouhoula, underlined the national strategy adopted in ICT sector adding that technological innovation and scientific development are likely to set Tunisia as an “exporter” of the knowledge economy

According to the executive staff of the Tunisian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (TCCI), Tunisian exports to the Arab and African countries posted an increase of 19.5% worth 803 billion dinars during the first 9 months of 2009, against 672 billion dinars in 2008.
Libya ranks first with 45% of the overall trading, followed by Algeria (31%), the Gulf and Middle East (5.85%) and Morocco (5.12%).

Trade volume in the Maghreb countries (Libya, Algeria, and Morocco) represents 81.27% of the overall transactions.
Food industries hold the lion’s share of the trade volume with 30%, followed by engineering industries (25%) and building materials and glass industries (12%), chemical industries (11.79%) and electrical and electronic industries (EEI) (8.4%).
These sectors represent a trade volume of 87% of the overall transactions accounting 700.5 billion dinars.

Tunisia was ranked respectively first in North Africa, third in the Arab world and fourth in Africa by the 2009 edition of the UK based  Legatum Prosperity Index. Tunisia is ranked 68 th in the world, preceding China, Russia, and Turkey.

In its third year, the 2009 edition of the index ranks 104 nations according to nine blocks of prosperity, which have been identified through extensive research and analysis by team of scholars, experts and analysts. They are:

-Economic fundamentals
-Entrepreneurship and innovation
-Democratic institutions
-Education
-Health
-Safety and security
-Governance
-Personal freedom
-Social capital

Finland tops this year’s rankings followed by Switzerland, Sweden, Denmark and Norway. Zimbabwe is last, followed by Yemen and Sudan.

The 2009 Legatum Prosperity Index, gives Tunisia good ratings insofar as its governance (36 th), educational system, health care, and stability and security (37 th), are concerned.

The report stresses the strong link between security and prosperity and notes that prosperity can be defined as both wealth and wellbeing, adding that “the most prosperous nations are not necessarily those that have a high GDP, but are those that also have happy healthy and free citizens”.

The meeting was co-chaired by Mr. Slaheddine Malouche, Minister of equipment, housing and land development, and Evariste Boshab, Speaker of the general assembly and secretary-general of the People’s Party for Reconstruction and Democracy of Congo.

Mr. Malouche explained the Tunisian policy in the housing field and reviewed the different institutional and financial mechanisms set up since 1988.

The Congolese official hailed Tunisia’s performance in the housing sector and voiced his country’s will to draw on Tunisia’s pioneering experience.