Emerging Export Services: Where Does Tunisia Stand?
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Tunisia without depending on an intermediary. A few have been treated for diseases or problems that occurred in the course of their stay in Tunisia. Based on a survey of clinics, one study estimates that in 2003, Tunisia hosted more than 42,000 foreign patients, who generated revenues of about TD27 million (about 24 percent of the clinics’ total revenues) (Lautier 2008). Based on these figures, the study extrapolates the total value of Tunisia’s medical services exports at TD69 million. These exports created more than 10,000 jobs (half of them in the health sector) and generated total revenues (including accommodations and other expenses) of TD133 million (table 5.1).
Engineering About 12,000 engineers and 1,000 architects were employed in Tunisia in 2004, and about 2,000 companies specialized in design, engineering, and consulting services. Some of these companies, such as SCET Tunisia, STUDI, and COMETE, have emerged as leading engineering firms in the region. For more than two decades, Tunisian engineering firms have exported their services—traditionally to other North and Sub-Saharan African countries, now to the Middle East and elsewhere. This early success resulted from the combination of several factors: • Foreign participation through capital and technological transfers, including qualified personnel and know-how, which resulted in higher standards and a reputation for quality • An initially largely protected domestic market, which enabled local firms to reach a critical size, gain experience, and then export Table 5.1 Number of Foreign Patients and Volume of Exports in Tunisia, by Nationality, 2004
Nationality of patient Libyan Algerian European Other Total
Number of foreign patients
Exports (TD million)
Exports/Total clinics’ output (TD million)
34,034 1,320 4,484 2,373 42,211
22.35 0.84 2.80 1.68 27.67
19.50 0.70 2.40 1.50 24.14
Source: Lautier 2008. Note: Based on a 2003 survey of 79 private clinics in Tunisia.