 Business Day (Johannesburg)
February 2, 2005, Posted to the web February 2, 2005
DIRECT air flights between Tunisia and SA are soon be established in a move to stimulate intraAfrica trade and tourism between the south and the north of the continent, says the Tunisian ambassador to SA, Ali Gautali.
Tourism within the continent was being frustrated by lack of public transport.
People in Africa still had to fly to Europe to get connecting flights to other parts of Africa, Gautali told a business audience in Kempton Park earlier this week .
Government foreign policy aims to increase trade links and political relations between SA and Arab Africa. Efforts are also being made to encourage South Africans to visit their far-flung northern neighbours.
Both countries are hoping to boost their own economies by acting as transit points for those passengers whose countries are not yet keen to open their airspace to African airlines.
Regulations within African countries often make it harder for their neighbours to do business than for investors from Europe or outside the continent.
However, the African Union (AU) has initiated talks within African states to repeal all laws prohibiting or overtaxing African airlines from using their airspace or landing at their airport.
Gautali said it was time for African countries to do away with restrictions that prohibited their neighbours starting business while western countries were at liberty to establish businesses.
His country was opening its doors to enable South Afrcian business to trade with or establish joint ventures with Tunisia.
The country has secured duty-free access with the European Union (EU). As a result, Tunisia intends allowing South African businesses to showcase their products to the European market.
"We are hoping that soon we will be allowed into the European trade zone and this should give South African manufacturers yet another opportunity to grow their business," he said.
Without vibrant and sustainable manufacturing industries, SA's prospects for job creation and a resilient economy will be difficult.
Western Cape and Eastern Cape are looking at twinning arrangements with some of the provinces in Tunisia.
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