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 08TUNIS199, TUNISIA ECONOMIC HIGHLIGHTS

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. #08TUNIS199.
Reference ID Created Released Classification Origin
08TUNIS199 2008-03-05 10:20 2011-08-24 16:30 UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY Embassy Tunis
VZCZCXRO5751
PP RUEHTRO
DE RUEHTU #0199/01 0651020
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 051020Z MAR 08
FM AMEMBASSY TUNIS
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 4530
INFO RUEHAD/AMEMBASSY ABU DHABI PRIORITY 0962
RUEHAS/AMEMBASSY ALGIERS PRIORITY 7632
RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON PRIORITY 1426
RUEHNK/AMEMBASSY NOUAKCHOTT PRIORITY 0964
RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS PRIORITY 1899
RUEHRB/AMEMBASSY RABAT PRIORITY 8514
RUEHTRO/AMEMBASSY TRIPOLI PRIORITY 0204
RUEHCL/AMCONSUL CASABLANCA PRIORITY 4194
RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
RUCPDOC/USDOC WASHDC PRIORITY
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 TUNIS 000199 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR NEA/MAG (HARRIS) 
STATE PASS USTR (BURKHEAD) AND USAID (MCCLOUD) 
USDOC FOR ITA/MAC/ONE (NATHAN MASON), ADVOCACY CTR (REITZE), AND 
CLDP (TEJTEL) 
USDOC PASS USPTO (ADAMS, BROWN AND MARSHALL) 
CASABLANCA FOR FCS (ORTIZ) 
LONDON AND PARIS FOR NEA WATCHER 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: ECON ETRD SENV EFIN BEXP ENRG TS
SUBJECT: TUNISIA ECONOMIC HIGHLIGHTS 
 
REF: TUNIS 52 
 
1. (U) This cable contains highlights of recent economic 
developments in Tunisia on the following topics: 
 
A. Growing Inflationary Pressures on Tunisia's Economy 
B. Tunisia Posts Record US $1.6 billion FDI 
C. GOT Allocates US $802.94 million for Subsidies 
D. Tunisia, Morocco Strengthen Economic Cooperation 
 
 
 
--------------------------------------------- ------ 
Growing Inflationary Pressures on Tunisia's Economy 
--------------------------------------------- ------ 
 
2. (U) According to the latest Tunisian National Institute of 
Statistics (INS), Tunisia's consumer price inflation, for January, 
rose to 5.7 percent year-on-year compared to 5.3 percent in December 
2007.  The January increase was due mainly to 9 percent growth in 
food costs because of higher prices of imported commodities. 
Sizable flows of foreign direct investment (FDI, see para 4), and 
the depreciation of the dinar relative to the Euro may also have 
contributed to inflation, according to the IMF. 
 
3. (U) The IMF January's Article IV report predicted that 
inflationary pressures, particularly imported inflation, would be 
likely to continue in 2008.  However, the Tunisian Central Bank's 
cautious monetary policy, and increase of required reserves ratios, 
is expected to keep inflation down to 4 percent on average in 2008. 
This forecast takes into account likely increases in the price of 
"administered products" (e.g., oil) if world commodity prices remain 
high. 
 
---------------------------------------- 
Tunisia Posts Record US $1.6 billion FDI 
---------------------------------------- 
 
4. (U) During a February 9 press conference, Noureddine Zekri, 
Director General of Foreign Investment at the Ministry of 
Development and International Cooperation, said that Tunisia's 
foreign direct investment (FDI) jumped to a record 2.0 billion 
dinars (US $1.6 billion) in 2007, thanks to higher inflows in the 
tourism and energy sectors.  FDI in tourism and real estate more 
than doubled to 72 million dinars (US $57 million) in 2007 compared 
to 2006.  The energy sector drew 1.35 billion dinars (US $1.07 
billion) versus 940.3 million dinars (US $714.63 million) in 2006, 
while services attracted 146.4 million dinars (US $115.66 million), 
up 32.1 percent in 2007.  The services sector represents 45 percent 
of the country gross domestic product (GDP) and is seen rising to 50 
percent in 2011.  FDI in the labor-intensive manufacturing sector 
stood at 485.7 million dinars (US $383.7 million) compared to 347.4 
million dinars (US $264.02 million) in 2006, and created 17,356 new 
jobs.  According to Zekri, the GOT hopes FDI will account for 26.1 
percent of gross domestic product (GDP) by 2016 from an expected 
22.7 percent this year. 
 
5.  (SBU) Comment: Rising FDI has been generated by the 
implementation of the Tunisian-EU Association Agreement, GOT 
investment policy in telecommunications and privatizations and 
concessions, which helped attract European companies and branches of 
foreign companies established in Europe to invest in Tunisia. 
Additionally, Tunisia is witnessing significant growth in Gulf FDI 
(reftel).  End Comment. 
 
--------------------------------------------- - 
GOT Allocates US $802.94 million for Subsidies 
--------------------------------------------- - 
 
6. (U) Tunisia's 2008 state budget has allocated US $802.94 million 
for the General Subsidy Fund (CGC), which primarily subsidizes basic 
food and energy products.  Record prices of oil and other world 
commodities prompted authorities to adopt a budget supplemental in 
December 2007, which effectively doubled subsidies to 1.3 percent of 
 
TUNIS 00000199  002 OF 002 
 
 
GDP.  However, the May and October 2007 increases in retail gas 
prices kept oil subsidies at the budgeted 1 percent of GDP. 
 
7. (SBU) Comment: In its January's Article IV report, the IMF 
recommended Tunisia consider less costly alternatives for protecting 
the purchasing power of low-income households.  One contact has 
estimated that 18,000 jobs are lost every year as a result of waste 
associated with the GOT subsidies.  Ironically, many subsidies 
benefit for the middle and upper classes just as much as if not more 
than low-income earners.  For example, the flour that is subsidized 
is used not only in bread but in pastries; the cement that is 
subsidized is used for new construction that the poor cannot afford; 
neither do the poor benefit as directly from subsidized fuel as do 
those who can afford to own their own vehicles.  The GOT is caught 
between its reluctance to risk social unrest and its efforts to keep 
the state budget deficit at 3 percent of GDP.  End Comment. 
 
--------------------------------------------- ----- 
Tunisia, Morocco Strengthen Economic Co-operation 
--------------------------------------------- ----- 
 
8. (U) On February 23, the prime ministers of Morocco and Tunisia 
concluded the 14th High Joint Moroccan-Tunisian Committee meetings 
in Tunis with the signing of eight new cooperation agreements. 
Among the agreements, the two sides agreed to facilitate the 
operation of a direct sea line between Tunisia and Morocco, which 
will further facilitate bilateral trade, following the signature of 
an open skies agreement in 2007.  The ministers also announced a 
goal of increasing bilateral trade from US $304.15 million in 2007 
to US $500 million per annum. 
 
9. (SBU) Comment: Tunisia and Morocco are expected to finalize 
details of a free trade agreement by May 2008.  Despite competition 
in the tourism sector, the two countries seek to improve economic 
relations within North Africa and with the European Union.  End 
Comment. 
GODEC