Oussama Ben Khalifa, deputy director and foreign trade expert at the Tunis Chamber of Commerce and Industry, emphasized the need to transform the benefits offered by the Arab free trade zone into concrete opportunities for Tunisian companies. He made these remarks on September 22, 2026, during an event in Tunis. The Arab market represents a pool of over 400 million consumers and offers several trade advantages, including exemption from customs duties on exchanges of products meeting applicable rules of origin.
Despite these opportunities, Tunisian companies, particularly small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), are not yet fully benefiting from them. Ben Khalifa attributed this situation to insufficient knowledge of Arab rules of origin and difficulties related to certificates of origin and required documents. He stressed the role of chambers of commerce as intermediaries to support companies, simplify procedures, and provide precise information on access conditions to Arab markets.
The Tunis Chamber of Commerce and Industry is committed to strengthening its services related to the issuance of certificates of origin, legalization, and authentication of commercial documents. This commitment aims to facilitate the access of Tunisian companies to the Arab market. Ben Khalifa's statements highlight the need for greater awareness and support for SMEs to take advantage of the opportunities offered by the Arab free trade zone.
An national workshop on promoting the advantages granted within the framework of the Arab free trade zone was organized on September 22, 2026, in Tunis. The event brought together representatives from the public and private sectors. The workshop aimed to raise awareness about the benefits of the Arab free trade zone and to discuss the challenges faced by Tunisian companies, particularly SMEs.
The Arab free trade zone offers significant opportunities for Tunisian companies, particularly in terms of access to a large market of over 400 million consumers. However, to benefit from these opportunities, companies must comply with the rules of origin and obtain the necessary certificates. The Tunis Chamber of Commerce and Industry is working to support companies in this process.
Ben Khalifa's remarks underscore the importance of simplifying procedures and providing precise information to companies on access conditions to Arab markets. The Tunis Chamber of Commerce and Industry is committed to playing a key role in this process. The chamber's efforts aim to increase the number of Tunisian companies benefiting from the Arab free trade zone.
The event in Tunis highlighted the need for greater collaboration between the public and private sectors to promote the advantages of the Arab free trade zone. The workshop provided a platform for discussion and exchange of ideas on how to support Tunisian companies, particularly SMEs, in accessing the Arab market.
Key points
- Tunisian SMEs face challenges in benefiting from the Arab free trade zone due to lack of knowledge about rules of origin and difficulties with certificates of origin.
