Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Hatem ATALLAH
FAX: [1] (202) 862-1858
telephone: [1] (202) 862-1850
chancery: 1515 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20005
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Rust M. DEMING
embassy: Zone Nord-Est des Berges du Lac Nord de Tunis, 2045 La
Goulette, Tunisia
mailing address: use embassy street address
telephone: [216] 71 782-566
FAX: [216] 71 789-719
Flag description:
red with a white disk in the center bearing a red crescent nearly
encircling a red five-pointed star; the crescent and star are
traditional symbols of Islam
Economy Tunisia
Economy - overview:
Tunisia has a diverse economy, with important agricultural, mining,
energy, tourism, and manufacturing sectors. Governmental control of
economic affairs while still heavy has gradually lessened over the
past decade with increasing privatization, simplification of the tax
structure, and a prudent approach to debt. Real growth averaged 5.4%
in 1997-2001 but slowed to 1.9% in 2002 because of agricultural
drought, slow investment, and lackluster tourism. Increased rainfall
portends higher growth levels for 2003, but continued regional
tension from the war in Iraq will most likely continue to suppress
tourism earnings. Tunisia has agreed to gradually remove barriers to
trade with the European Union over the next decade. Broader
privatization, further liberalization of the investment code to
increase foreign investment, improvements in government efficiency,
and reduction of the trade deficit are among the challenges for the
future.
GDP:
purchasing power parity - $67.13 billion (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
4.8% (2002 est.)
GDP - per capita:
purchasing power parity - $6,800 (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 12% industry: 32% services: 56% (2003 est.)
Population below poverty line: 6% (2000 est.)