HE Qatar's Ambassador to the Tunisian Republic Abdullah bin Nasser Al Humaidi underlined that the upcoming visit by President of Tunisia Beji Caid Essebsi to Qatar reflects the growing and developing relations between the two countries in all fields.
HE the Ambassador believed that the Tunisian President's visit to Qatar would further promote the fraternal relations between the two peoples in embodiment of the common will of both leaderships to upgrade bilateral relations and mutual cooperation.
Speaking to Qatar News Agency (QNA) in Tunis, HE the Qatari Ambassador said that the visit comes in the framework of HH the Emir of Qatar Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani's keenness to support the democratic transition in Tunisia.
He noted that the State of Qatar provided economic support to Tunisia after the revolution, mainly in social and humanitarian projects in addition to diversified investments in several areas.
After the revolution, the State of Qatar provided Tunisia a low interest loan of $ 500 million with a similar amount deposit, in addition to $ 20 million grant for the wounded of the Tunisian revolution and provided treatment for about 20 of those wounded in Doha and abroad, he said.
The Ambassador shed light on a number of social projects funded by Qatar in Tunisia, including Omar Al-Mukhtar residential city which consists of 810 social housing at a cost of $ 29 million, and the Qatari Friendship Fund in Tunisia which is concerned with the support and funding of special projects for young people worth $ 79 million. The Fund contributed to the establishment of 1800 small and medium enterprises and provided direct jobs to 8000 citizen and indirect jobs to 20,000.
He pointed to another housing project includes 50 housing units for low-income people, a grant of the State of Qatar at a cost of one million and 100 thousand dollars.
HE the Qatari Ambassador added that Qatar is the largest Arab investor country in Tunisia with a value of investments estimated at three billion dollars in the telecommunications, banking and tourism sectors.
He noted that both countries are seeking to increase the Qatari investment volume in Tunisia, underlining that the Tunisian President's visit to Doha would definitely contribute to promote and support the Qatari investment in Tunis especially in light of the encouraging investment climate in the country.
He pointed to the increasing volume of trade exchange between Qatar and Tunisia which was estimated at $ 29.5 million in 2015 in comparison to $ 15.8 million in 2010.
The Qatari exports to Tunisia reached nearly $ 18.4 million in 2015 and consisted mainly of petroleum products, while the value of imports of Tunisian products reached approximately US $ 11.1 million and consisted mainly of agricultural products (olive, oil and dates).
HE the Ambassador also highlighted the investments of the Qatari private sector, such as a tourism project of the Qatari Diar which is the first desert resort of its kind in the south-west of Tunisia at a cost of $ 80 million, along with other social and humanitarian projects carried out by the Qatari charities including Qatar Charity, Sheikh Thani Bin Abdullah Foundation for Humanitarian Services (RAF) and other charitable and humanitarian institutions.
Meanwhile, HE the Qatari Ambassador commended the contributions of the Tunisian community and working experiences in Qatar, estimated at 20,000 Tunisians working in the various fields and sectors.