In his speech in Tunis, Ridha Ben Mosbah, Minister of Trade of Tunisia, highlighted the progress made by the citrus fruit sector in recent years: between 2005 and 2009 production has increased by 5.1%, while exports by 6.4%.

In order to meet foreign markets’ needs - Italiafruit News reports - Mosbah proposed several initiatives that should be implemented: the creation of a platform for quality, the adoption of a pilot program for traceability and the formation of a statistics information network to support business’ development.

The Minister also reiterated the need to invest in the media and in the export markets’ distribution sector to begin to define a “stronger and more definite image” of the north African country as fresh produce supplier.


Positive trade balance in 2009
While working to improve the citrus fruit industry, Tunisia can already boast significant improvement in many crops. In general, in the first nine months of 2009 the trade balance of Tunisian agriculture rose by 6 per cent, with a growth of 99 million dinars more (about 51.1 million euros). The boost was possible thanks to several investments, on behalf of the government (10%) and of private bodies (57%).

Olive oil production is one of the major fields, with exports amounting 140,000 tonnes out of a total production of 160,000 t - ANSAmed news agency reports - for a value of 525 million dinars (about 271 million euros).

The dates sector too shows positive data, with a production of 162,000 tonnes (69,000 of which are of the valuable Deglet Nour quality) and exports totalling 69,000 tonnes, for a total of 213 million dinars (about 152.2 million euros).

Citrus fruits register a production increase of 50,000 tonnes compared with the previous season, with a harvest of 300,000 tonnes.

The agricultural sector is responsible for 13% of Tunisia’s gross domestic product, absorbing 9% of investments and 16% of the country's active labour force. Many projects are underway to develop the various sectors.