What about the trade in Tunisia – Djerba?

Finally in Tunisia! This was the country I was looking forward the most to go. You know, Tunisia was the first Mediterranean country to sign an Association Agreement with the EU (in 1995). To freshen up your memory a little bit, an Association Agreement is a treaty between the EU and a country that’s not in the EU which have a sort of co-operation between them. For example agreements in political, trade, social, cultural or security fields.

The main products Tunisia export are crude and refined petroleum, olive oil, ready-made garments and hosiery (generally known as hose), shoes and sea products. Agriculture is also very important in the Tunisian economy and it keeps growing. Especially the cultivation of olive trees, fruit trees and palm trees. Organic farming is also becoming very popular. It’s a way of farming without using insecticides, herbicides and hormones so no genetically modified organisms. This is a way of farming I like the most. I think it’s healthier without using all these products and like that you know everything is cultivated the way it’s supposed to be!

The main import products are fabrics and textile products, sugar, vegetable oils, wheat (a cereal grain), chemicals, industrial raw materials and capital goods.

Tunisia has several main customers and main suppliers. For example France, Italy, Germany but also Belgium! But don’t think Tunisia is only a trading partner with the European Union. It’s also having trade relationships with some Islamic countries: Algeria, Turkey and Morocco.

As I started to look further into the trade of Djerba, I noticed they keep a lot of trade shows over there. With these shows I mean some sort of exhibition or expo that companies keep to show their latest products, services or activities. Some fairs are open for public and some aren’t. So they are classified as “Public” or “Trade Only” to make things very clear for everyone.