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Strategic Business Opportunities: Tunisia and the Maghreb Region
Overview
This program will focus on strategic business opportunities in the Maghreb region, highlighting Tunisia and Morocco. The Arab Maghreb Union is an economic cooperation grouping of North African countries comprising of Tunisia, Algeria, Libya, Morocco, and Mauritania. Tunisia has a population of 10 million and holds one of the highest degrees of purchasing power in Africa. Consumption patterns are becoming more sophisticated and thus demand for high-value consumer-oriented products is on the rise.
Political stability, sound economic policies, a modern, developed infrastructure and a well-qualified workforce have helped Tunisia become Africa's leading destination for foreign direct investment (FDI). Macroeconomic performance has been impressive in recent years, with GDP growth averaging 4% per annum for most of the 1990s and over 5% per annum for the past five years. GDP per capita for 2000 was estimated at $2,337 - the highest in the Maghreb region. There are more than 1,800 foreign companies operating in Tunisia, including such household names as British Gas, Benetton, General Motors, Lee Cooper, Mitsubishi, Siemens and Danone. In 1995 Tunisia signed an Association Agreement with the European Union (EU) that should lead to the elimination of a wide range of tariff barriers on imported goods by 2008 and even closer links with Europe. The government is currently implementing a broad "Mise a Niveau" (competitiveness enhancement) program to enhance the productivity of Tunisian businesses in preparation for impending competition in the global marketplace.
Schedule:
| 1:30-1:45 | Registration | |
| 1:45-2:00 | Welcome and overview Louis Nzegwu, associate professor & executive director, UW-Platteville International Business Resource Center | |
| 2:00-2:45 | Current Economic Situation in the Region Lawrence Muzinga, assistant professor at the University of Dubuque, Iowa School of Business | |
| 2:45-3:30 | Doing Business in Tunisia and Export Opportunities Dr. Terry Smith, president and CEO, Dairy Strategies, LLC, Madison | |
| 3:30-3:45 | Funding Opportunities to Enhance your Business Strategy in Emerging Markets Chris Durbin, Emerging Markets Program, USDA, Washington D.C. | |
| 3:45-4:00 | Q&A | |
| 4:00-5:00 | Reception |
Date(s)
12/1/2005
Time
1:30 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Reception
4:00PM-5:00PM
Location
Madison Hilton Hotel View Map
Cost
$25 for members of the Madison International Trade Association (MITA)
$35 for non-members
Registration
To register, please send an e-mail to Jill Carmichael, membership director for MITA, at jcarmichael@johnsonbank.com. Payment (cash or check) will be accepted at the event.
Please register early, as this program is limited to 50 participants.
Target Audience
Business community
Open to Others
Yes
Sponsors
Madison International Trade Association (MITA)
UW-Madison Center for International Business Education and Research (CIBER)
UW-Madison Center for World Affairs and the Global Economy (WAGE)
UW-Platteville International Business Resource Center
Co-sponsors
World Trade Center Wisconsin
Milwaukee World Trade Association
Contact Information
Jill Carmichael jcarmichael@johnsonbank.com
Speaker Biographies
Dr. Terry Smith is President and CEO of Dairy Strategies, LLC, Madison, Wisconsin. He completed a sector analysis of the Tunisian dairy sector in early 2004, in collaboration with the USLGE (U.S. Livestock Genetics Export, Inc.) and focused on identifying the export opportunities for US agricultural products and services appropriate to the dairy industry. He has spent nearly 30 years working with the dairy and agricultural sectors throughout the US and internationally in more than 12 countries throughout his career as a university professor at The Ohio State University, Cornell University and the University of Wisconsin, and private consultant with the Dairy Strategies, LLC. In 2002, Dairy Strategies received the Governor's Export Achievement Award for extraordinary results in international sales and/or contribution to Wisconsin's increased ability to compete in a global market.
Lawrence Muzinga is from the Democratic Republic of Congo. He received a Bachelor's degree in Applied Economics with a major in Financial Management and Accounting from the University of Kinshasa in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Upon graduation from the University of Kinshasa, Dr. Muzinga worked as an advisor at the Congolese Accounting Council and as a Trainee Manager at the Commercial Bank of Congo. He also received an MA degree in African Studies (African Economic Development) and a PhD in Agricultural and Consumer Economics with specialization in Agricultural Finance, both from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Lawrence is currently Assistant Professor at the University of Dubuque, Iowa School of Business. Muzinga is a member of the American Agricultural Economics Association (AAEA) and the Center of Research on Congo.
Chris Durbin is an agricultural marketing specialist at USDA-Emerging Market Program, Washington D.C. She has worked with this program since 1992 where she reviews and monitors projects for areas in Africa, the Near East, The Middle East and projects for multiple geographic areas. She also provides guidance for the Export Readiness Training Program, an in-depth program that provides export training to new to minority and women-owned U.S. agribusinesses.