Keep Us Strong WikiLeaks logo

Currently released so far... 97115 / 251,287

Articles

Browse latest releases

Browse by creation date

Browse by origin

A B C D F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W Y Z

Browse by tag

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
ETRD EAGR ETTC EAID ECON EFIN ECIN EINV ELAB EAIR ENRG EPET EWWT ECPS EIND EMIN ELTN EC ETMIN EUC EZ ET ELECTIONS ENVR EU EUN EG EINT ER ECONOMICS ES EMS ENIV EEB EN ECE ECOSOC EK ENVIRONMENT EFIS EI EWT ENGRD ECPSN EXIM EIAD ERIN ECPC EDEV ENGY ECTRD EPA ESTH ECCT EINVECON ENGR ERTD EUR EAP EWWC ELTD EL EXIMOPIC EXTERNAL ETRDEC ESCAP ECO EGAD ELNT ECONOMIC ENV ETRN EIAR EUMEM ENRGPARMOTRASENVKGHGPGOVECONTSPLEAID EREL ECOM ECONETRDEAGRJA ETCC ETRG ECONOMY EMED ETR ENERG EITC EFINOECD EURM EENG ERA EXPORT ENRD ECONEINVETRDEFINELABETRDKTDBPGOVOPIC EGEN EBRD EVIN ETRAD ECOWAS EFTA ECONETRDBESPAR EGOVSY EPIN EID ECONENRG EDRC ESENV ETT EB ENER ELTNSNAR ECHEVARRIA ETRC EPIT EDUC ESA EFI ENRGY ESCI EE EAIDXMXAXBXFFR EETC ECIP EIAID EIVN EBEXP ESTN EING EGOV ETRA EPETEIND ELAN ETRDGK EAIDRW ETRDEINVECINPGOVCS EPEC ENVI ELN EAG EPCS EPRT EPTED ETRB EUM EAIDS EFIC EFINECONEAIDUNGAGM EAIDAR ESF EIDN ELAM EDU EV EAIDAF ECN EDA EXBS EINTECPS ENRGTRGYETRDBEXPBTIOSZ EPREL EAC EINVEFIN ETA EAGER EINDIR ECA ECLAC ELAP EITI EUCOM ECONEFINETRDPGOVEAGRPTERKTFNKCRMEAID EARG ELDIN EINVKSCA ENNP EFINECONCS EFINTS ECCP ETC EAIRASECCASCID EINN ETRP EAIDNI EFQ ECOQKPKO EGPHUM EBUD ECONEINVEFINPGOVIZ ENERGY ELB EINDETRD EMI ECONEFIN EIB EURN ETRDEINVTINTCS EIN EFIM ETIO ELAINE EMN EATO EWTR EIPR EINVETC ETTD ETDR EIQ ECONCS EPPD ENRGIZ EISL ESPINOSA ELEC EAIG ESLCO EUREM ENTG ERD EINVECONSENVCSJA EEPET EUNCH ECINECONCS ETRO ETRDECONWTOCS ECUN EFND EPECO EAIRECONRP ERGR ETRDPGOV ECPN ENRGMO EPWR EET EAIS EAGRE EDUARDO EAGRRP EAIDPHUMPRELUG EICN ECONQH EVN EGHG ELBR EINF EAIDHO EENV ETEX ERNG ED
KMDR KPAO KPKO KJUS KCRM KGHG KFRD KWMN KDEM KTFN KHIV KGIC KIDE KSCA KNNP KHUM KIPR KSUM KISL KIRF KCOR KRCM KPAL KWBG KN KS KOMC KSEP KFLU KPWR KTIA KSEO KMPI KHLS KICC KSTH KMCA KVPR KPRM KE KU KZ KFLO KSAF KTIP KTEX KBCT KOCI KOLY KOR KAWC KACT KUNR KTDB KSTC KLIG KSKN KNN KCFE KCIP KGHA KHDP KPOW KUNC KDRL KV KPREL KCRS KPOL KRVC KRIM KGIT KWIR KT KIRC KOMO KRFD KUWAIT KG KFIN KSCI KTFIN KFTN KGOV KPRV KSAC KGIV KCRIM KPIR KSOC KBIO KW KGLB KMWN KPO KFSC KSEAO KSTCPL KSI KPRP KREC KFPC KUNH KCSA KMRS KNDP KR KICCPUR KPPAO KCSY KTBT KCIS KNEP KFRDCVISCMGTCASCKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG KNNB KGCC KINR KPOP KMFO KENV KNAR KVIR KDRG KDMR KFCE KNAO KDEN KGCN KICA KIMMITT KMCC KLFU KMSG KSEC KUM KCUL KMNP KSMT KCOM KOMCSG KSPR KPMI KRAD KIND KCRP KAUST KWAWC KTER KCHG KRDP KPAS KITA KTSC KPAOPREL KWGB KIRP KJUST KMIG KLAB KTFR KSEI KSTT KAPO KSTS KLSO KWNN KPOA KHSA KNPP KPAONZ KBTS KWWW KY KJRE KPAOKMDRKE KCRCM KSCS KWMNCI KESO KWUN KPLS KIIP KEDEM KPAOY KRIF KGICKS KREF KTRD KFRDSOCIRO KTAO KJU KWMNPHUMPRELKPAOZW KEN KO KNEI KEMR KKIV KEAI KWAC KRCIM KWCI KFIU KWIC KCORR KOMS KNNO KPAI KBWG KTTB KTBD KTIALG KILS KFEM KTDM KESS KNUC KPA KOMCCO KCEM KRCS KWBGSY KNPPIS KNNPMNUC KWN KERG KLTN KALM KCCP KSUMPHUM KREL KGH KLIP KTLA KAWK KWMM KVRP KVRC KAID KSLG KDEMK KX KIF KNPR KCFC KFTFN KTFM KPDD KCERS KMOC KDEMAF KMEPI KEMS KDRM KEPREL KBTR KEDU KNP KIRL KNNR KMPT KISLPINR KTPN KA KJUSTH KPIN KDEV KTDD KAKA KFRP KWNM KTSD KINL KJUSKUNR KWWMN KECF KWBC KPRO KVBL KOM KFRDKIRFCVISCMGTKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG KEDM KFLD KLPM KRGY KNNF KICR KIFR KM KWMNCS KAWS KLAP KPAK KDDG KCGC KID KNSD KMPF KPFO KDP KCMR KRMS KNPT KNNNP KTIAPARM KDTB KNUP KPGOV KNAP KNNC KUK KSRE KREISLER KIVP KQ KTIAEUN KPALAOIS KRM KISLAO KWM KFLOA
PHUM PINR PTER PGOV PREL PREF PL PM PHSA PE PARM PINS PK PUNE PO PALESTINIAN PU PBTS PROP PTBS POL POLI PA PGOVZI POLMIL POLITICAL PARTIES POLM PD POLITICS POLICY PAS PMIL PINT PNAT PV PKO PPOL PERSONS PING PBIO PH PETR PARMS PRES PCON PETERS PRELBR PT PLAB PP PAK PDEM PKPA PSOCI PF PLO PTERM PJUS PSOE PELOSI PROPERTY PGOVPREL PARP PRL PNIR PHUMKPAL PG PREZ PGIC PBOV PAO PKK PROV PHSAK PHUMPREL PROTECTION PGOVBL PSI PRELPK PGOVENRG PUM PRELKPKO PATTY PSOC PRIVATIZATION PRELSP PGOVEAIDUKNOSWGMHUCANLLHFRSPITNZ PMIG PREC PAIGH PROG PSHA PARK PETER POG PHUS PPREL PS PTERPREL PRELPGOV POV PKPO PGOVECON POUS PGOVPRELPHUMPREFSMIGELABEAIDKCRMKWMN PWBG PMAR PREM PAR PNR PRELPGOVEAIDECONEINVBEXPSCULOIIPBTIO PARMIR PGOVGM PHUH PARTM PN PRE PTE PY POLUN PPEL PDOV PGOVSOCI PIRF PGOVPM PBST PRELEVU PGOR PBTSRU PRM PRELKPAOIZ PGVO PERL PGOC PAGR PMIN PHUMR PVIP PPD PGV PRAM PINL PKPAL PTERE PGOF PINO PHAS PODC PRHUM PHUMA PREO PPA PEPFAR PGO PRGOV PAC PRESL PORG PKFK PEPR PRELP PREFA PNG PGOVPHUMKPAO PRELECON PINOCHET PFOR PGOVLO PHUMBA PRELC PREK PHUME PHJM POLINT PGOVPZ PGOVKCRM PGOVE PHALANAGE PARTY PECON PEACE PROCESS PLN PRELSW PAHO PEDRO PRELA PASS PPAO PGPV PNUM PCUL PGGV PSA PGOVSMIGKCRMKWMNPHUMCVISKFRDCA PGIV PRFE POGOV PEL PBT PAMQ PINF PSEPC POSTS PHUMPGOV PVOV PHSAPREL PROLIFERATION PENA PRELTBIOBA PIN PRELL PGOVPTER PHAM PHYTRP PTEL PTERPGOV PHARM PROTESTS PRELAF PKBL PRELKPAO PKNP PARMP PHUML PFOV PERM PUOS PRELGOV PHUMPTER PARAGRAPH PERURENA PBTSEWWT PCI PETROL PINSO PINSCE PQL PEREZ PBS

Browse by classification

Community resources

courage is contagious

Viewing cable 07TUNIS1299, TUNISIA'S TEXTILE SECTOR BOUNCES BACK

If you are new to these pages, please read an introduction on the structure of a cable as well as how to discuss them with others. See also the FAQs

Understanding cables
Every cable message consists of three parts:
  • The top box shows each cables unique reference number, when and by whom it originally was sent, and what its initial classification was.
  • The middle box contains the header information that is associated with the cable. It includes information about the receiver(s) as well as a general subject.
  • The bottom box presents the body of the cable. The opening can contain a more specific subject, references to other cables (browse by origin to find them) or additional comment. This is followed by the main contents of the cable: a summary, a collection of specific topics and a comment section.
To understand the justification used for the classification of each cable, please use this WikiSource article as reference.

Discussing cables
If you find meaningful or important information in a cable, please link directly to its unique reference number. Linking to a specific paragraph in the body of a cable is also possible by copying the appropriate link (to be found at theparagraph symbol). Please mark messages for social networking services like Twitter with the hash tags #cablegate and a hash containing the reference ID e.g. #07TUNIS1299.
Reference ID Created Released Classification Origin
07TUNIS1299 2007-09-24 14:15 2011-08-24 16:30 UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY Embassy Tunis
VZCZCXRO2177
PP RUEHTRO
DE RUEHTU #1299/01 2671415
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 241415Z SEP 07
FM AMEMBASSY TUNIS
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 3914
INFO RUEHAD/AMEMBASSY ABU DHABI PRIORITY 0931
RUEHAS/AMEMBASSY ALGIERS PRIORITY 7541
RUEHEG/AMEMBASSY CAIRO PRIORITY 1485
RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON PRIORITY 1368
RUEHNK/AMEMBASSY NOUAKCHOTT PRIORITY 0910
RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS PRIORITY 1839
RUEHRB/AMEMBASSY RABAT PRIORITY 8441
RUEHTRO/AMEMBASSY TRIPOLI PRIORITY 0139
RUEHCL/AMCONSUL CASABLANCA PRIORITY 4138
RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
RUCPDOC/USDOC WASHDC PRIORITY
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 TUNIS 001299 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR EEB/TPP/ABT (CLEMENTS) AND NEA/MAG (HARRIS) 
STATE PASS USTR (BURKHEAD) 
USDOC FOR ITA/MAC/ONE (NATHAN MASON), ADVOCACY CTR (JAMES) 
CASABLANCA FOR FCS (ORTIZ) 
LONDON AND PARIS FOR NEA WATCHER 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: ETRD KTEX BEXP TS
SUBJECT: TUNISIA'S TEXTILE SECTOR BOUNCES BACK 
 
REF: A. STATE 114799 
     B. 06 TUNIS 2465 
     C. 06 TUNIS 2464 
 
TUNIS 00001299  001.2 OF 002 
 
 
------- 
Summary 
------- 
 
1. (U) After experiencing job loss and a drop in exports in 
recent years, the Tunisian textile sector appears to be back 
in good health.  Faced with competition from cheaper, 
mass-produced Asian textiles, the Tunisian textile sector has 
regained market share in Europe and the value of exports has 
increased.  Solid export performance for the second half of 
2006 and early 2007 indicate that the sector's strategy of 
re-orienting towards value-added production was a good one. 
End Summary. 
 
---------- 
Statistics 
---------- 
 
2. (U) Per Ref A request, Post has gathered the following 
statistics for 2006: 
 
-- Total industrial production is estimated at US $5.2 billion 
-- Total textile production is estimated at US $1.4 billion 
-- Total value of textile exports is estimated at US $3.9 
billion 
-- Textile/apparel share of imports is about 16.76 percent 
-- Textile/apparel share of exports is about 33.63 percent 
-- Exports of textile/apparel to the US are US $17.65 million 
-- Imports of textile/apparel from the US are US $14.32 
million 
-- Manufacturing employment is estimated at 554,600 
-- Total textile employment estimated at 204,000 
 
------------------- 
Exports Bounce Back 
------------------- 
 
3. (U) Following the end of the Multifiber Agreement, the 
Tunisian textile sector saw its market share erode in its 
traditional European markets and experienced significant job 
loss.  Although 2005 and early 2006 looked bleak, the sector 
appears to have bounced back, with the textile share of 
exports rising 1.8 percent from 2005 to 2006.  Najib Karafi, 
Director General of GOT-founded Technical Center for Textiles 
(CETTEX), told EconOff that textile exports are now back to 
2001 levels.  Although the volume of exports has not 
increased, the focus on value-added production led to an 
increase in the overall value of textile exports.  In 2006, 
textile exports earned US $3.9 billion, up from US $3.7 
billion in 2005.  The outlook for 2007 looks even brighter, 
with textile exports up nearly 20 percent over the first half 
of 2006. 
 
-------- 
EU Bound 
-------- 
 
4. (U) Although CETTEX and the National Federation for 
Textile Employers (FENATEX) have emphasized the importance of 
expanding into new markets, over 90 percent of textile 
exports continue to be directed towards European Union 
countries.  Zied Charfi, Research Director at FENATEX, noted, 
however, that there has been greater diversification within 
the EU, with exports to Portugal, Spain and United Kingdom 
rising.  Karafi lamented that the sector has not had greater 
success in diversifying trading partners, but stated that the 
first priority had been to maintain market share in Europe. 
He remarked that Tunisia had been successful in moving from 
the 7th leading textile exporter to the EU to the 5th. 
 
---------------------- 
 
TUNIS 00001299  002.2 OF 002 
 
 
US Trade Still Limited 
---------------------- 
 
5. (U) Charfi remarked that despite strong interest from 
textile manufacturers, few producers have been able to 
successfully break into the US market.  Charfi expressed 
disappointment that few of the manufacturers attending the 
2006 Magic Show exposition in Las Vegas were able to generate 
any business.  Both Charfi and Karafi noted strong textile 
sector support for a Free Trade Agreement with the United 
States.  Karafi added that most textile producers believe 
they would benefit from an FTA. 
 
------------------ 
Job Loss Staunched 
------------------ 
 
6. (SBU) Estimates for jobs lost in the sector range from 
36,000-50,000 over the period from 2000 to 2005.  CETTEX 
figures show that textile sector employment is 204,000 
workers, up slightly from 194,000 in 2005.  Karafi remarked 
that while there have been closures and layoffs during the 
past year, these have been offset by new investments and the 
creation of new jobs.  CETTEX recorded 71.3 million Tunisian 
dinars (roughly US $56.7 million) in foreign direct 
investment for 2006.  A researcher from the General Union of 
Tunisian Workers (UGTT) told EmbOff on September 20 that 
while UGTT studies showed almost 36,000 jobs were lost 
between 2000 and 2005, employment in the sector now appears 
to have stabilized.  Confirming the rosy picture presented by 
CETTEX and FENATEX, he stated that textile unions and workers 
indicate that the sector recovered in 2006. 
 
------- 
Comment 
------- 
 
7. (SBU) Given the importance of the textile sector to the 
Tunisian economy, the sector's rebound is welcome news to the 
GOT.  The sector owes its rebound to successfully 
re-orienting towards value-added production and to continued 
foreign investment in the sector.  Yet perhaps the most 
important lesson from the textile sector's successful rebound 
is that the GOT needs to allow market forces to operate 
freely.  Rather than bailing out failing manufacturers, the 
GOT allowed non-competitive producers to close, despite the 
job loss.  In the end, the market, not the GOT, knows best. 
End Comment. 
GODEC