Προφίλ συναλλασσόμενης χώρας Τυνησία

Setting up a company | FDI in figures | Why you should choose to invest | Procedures relative to foreign investment | Finding assistance for further information

Setting up a company

Legal business entities

Types of companies and capital (max/min)	Number of partners/shareholders and liability	Maximum and/or minimum capital	Liabilities	Registration fees
The individual company.	1 person.	No minimum capital.	The individual businessman is liable for company debts on his personal property.	Certificate stating that the company's declaration of constitution was filed: TND 15 / page; Registration of the documents by the Court: TND 15 ; Publication in the Gazette (Official Bulletin): TND 200 ; Inscription to the Trade Registry: TND 5 by extract (3 are needed); Registration for social security: TND 5 ; Stamp / seal of the company: TND 5.
Limited liability company SARL	2 partners minimum.	1 000 TND minimum. The minimum nominal value of a share must be 5 TND.	Their liability is limited to the amount of capital contributed.	Certificate stating that the company's declaration of constitution was filed: TND 15 / page; Registration of the documents by the Court: TND 15 ; Publication in the Gazette (Official Bulletin): TND 200 ; Inscription to the Trade Registry: TND 5 by extract (3 are needed); Registration for social security: TND 5 ; Stamp / seal of the company: TND 5.
Public limited company SA.	Minimum 7 partners.	No minimum capital. 1/4 of the capital must be paid up at the creation. The balance must be paid up within a maximum of 5 years.	Their liability is limited to the amount of capital contributed..	Certificate stating that the company's declaration of constitution was filed: TND 15 / page; Registration of the documents by the Court: TND 15 ; Publication in the Gazette (Official Bulletin): TND 200 ; Inscription to the Trade Registry: TND 5 by extract (3 are needed); Registration for social security: TND 5 ; Stamp / seal of the company: TND 5.
General partnership.	Minimum 2 partners.	No minimum capital.	Their liability is unlimited.	Certificate stating that the company's declaration of constitution was filed: TND 15 / page; Registration of the documents by the Court: TND 15 ; Publication in the Gazette (Official Bulletin): TND 200 ; Inscription to the Trade Registry: TND 5 by extract (3 are needed); Registration for social security: TND 5 ; Stamp / seal of the company: TND 5.
Limited joint-stock partnership.	There are 2 types of partner, the active partners and the silent partners.	No minimum capital.	The liability of the active partners is unlimited. The liability of the silent partners is limited to the amount of capital contributed as long as they do not participate in the management of the company.	Certificate stating that the company's declaration of constitution was filed: TND 15 / page; Registration of the documents by the Court: TND 15 ; Publication in the Gazette (Official Bulletin): TND 200 ; Inscription to the Trade Registry: TND 5 by extract (3 are needed); Registration for social security: TND 5 ; Stamp / seal of the company: TND 5.

Business setup procedures: The creation of an SA or an SARL needs a trader's card to be issued first and the company to be registered in the Register of Commerce. The formalities are quite flexible, especially for companies which hold procurement contracts.
The competent organization: The agency for the promotion of foreign investment

FDI in figures

Foreign Direct Investment	2007	2008	2009
FDI of inward flow (millions USD)	1616.0953986389	2758.3716136153	1687.5884082443
FDI inward stock (millions USD)	26193.4136151389	29083.4414840828	31857.1320124497
Performance Index*, ranking on 141 economies	75/141	42/141	46/141
Potential Index**, ranking on 141 economies	68/141	68/141	-
Number of Greenfield investments***	28	58	49
FDI inwards (in % of GFCF****)	18.9646944076106	26.9899375109133	8.23344613715608
FDI stock (in % of GDP)	73.5420459438371	70.3270589705301	77.0804185951236

πηγή:

Note: * The UNCTAD Inward FDI Performance index is based on a ratio of the country's share in global FDI inflows and its share in global GDP. ** The UNCTAD Inward FDI Potential index is based on 12 economic and structural variables such as GDP, foreign trade, FDI, infrastructures, energy use, R&D, education, country risk.*** Green field investments are a form of foreign direct investment where a parent company starts a new venture in a foreign country by constructing new operational facilities from the ground up. **** Gross fixed capital formation (GFCF) measures the value of additions to fixed assets purchased by business, government and households less disposals of fixed assets sold off or scrapped.

Why you should choose to invest Tunisia

Strong points: The country's credit-worthiness guarantees its access to international capital markets. The growing diversification of the economy reinforces its resistance to economic crises. Tunisia enjoys a strategic location on the Mediterranean. Tunis is on average, at a 2 hour flight from the major European capitals. A well developed social system and an ambitious education policy aim to reduce the social cost of adjustment and to reinforce the modernization of the country. Tunisia has a qualified, productive workforce at competitive salary levels.
In addition, the 2007 Finance Law, together with measures in favor of technological innovation and economic competitiveness, provide a very favorable environment for SMEs. Two tools were created at the end of 2006 in order to facilitate the emergence of new companies, the Bank of financing Small and Medium Enterprises (BFPME) to finance innovative projects, and the Tunisian Guarantee Company (SOTUGAR) to reassure backers and guarantee the profitability of projects.
Weak points: Bureaucracy.
Government measures to motivate or restrict FDI: Over the last few decades, Tunisia has chosen to liberalize its economy even more and to integrate it in the world economy. The list of measures established by the government to encourage FDI is available on the Foreign Investment Promotion Agency (FIPA) website.
Bilateral investment conventions signed by Tunisia: Tunisia is a signatory to agreements on guaranteeing and protecting investments with several countries.

Procedures relative to foreign investment

Freedom of establishment: Yes
Acquisition of holdings: Possible but you must obtain a business card from the Foreign Trade Services.
Competent organization for the declaration: Agency for the promotion of foreign investment
Requests for specific authorizations: The agency for the promotion of foreign investment in the country gives information about the authorizations necessary for setting up business.

Finding assistance for further information

Investment aid agency: Agency for the Promotion of Investment
The Tunisian Export Exchange
Other useful resources