NUSACC Welcomes Former Tunisian Prime Minister Jomaa
The National U.S.-Arab Chamber Commerce (NUSACC) hosted former Tunisian Prime Minister Mehdi Jomaa for an exclusive off-the-record discussion about recent developments in Tunisia and future trends. The round-table, which NUSACC co-hosted with the Tunisian-American Young Professionals Association (TAYP), was held at NUSACC’s offices on March 4. Among the topics the former Prime Minister discussed were ways to stimulate economic growth in Tunisia, aspirations and opportunities for Tunisian youth, and the need for continued U.S. engagement with Tunisia. Praising Tunisia’s young people, whom he noted were the driving force behind the revolution, former Prime Minister Jomaa said that “the big changes in Tunisia will be brought about by the young people, so we will have to involve them.”
The former Prime Minister also called on the United States to remain engaged with Tunisia, observing that “if we want to change the region in a strategic way, the United States needs to focus on Tunisia in the long-term.” Tunisia, he said, “is a start-up democracy – you have to believe in it.”
In his remarks welcoming former Prime Minister Jomaa, NUSACC President & CEO David Hamod stated, “Tunisia is working to put business-friendly regulations in place that will make that country even more attractive to U.S. exporters and investors. In the same spirit, Tunisian exports to the USA are on this rise – growing four percent last year – which was a reflection of the growing commercial relationship between our two nations.”
H.E. Mehdi Jomaa served as Prime Minister to Tunisia from January of 2014 to February of 2015 and had served as Minister of Industry in 2013. Last month, he announced the creation of a policy-oriented think tank called “Tunisia Alternatives.” NUSACC hosted a dinner for then-Prime Minister Jomaa, his delegation, and 250 U.S. companies when he visited the United States in April 2014.
Source: campaign.r20.constantcontact.com