MINISTER JOE BORG VISITS TUNISIA

Today, Thursday 26^th October, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dr Joe Borg, paid a one day visit to Tunisia and had a number of official meetings with members of the Tunisian Government and Tunisian constituted bodies. In his meeting with the chairman of the Tunisian Chamber of Commerce, Minister Borg discussed co-operation in commercial matters and the exchange of delegations aimed at establishing concrete and frutiful ways of increasing bilateral trade.

Minister Borg also assisted at the signing of the Investment Guarantee Agreement between Minister John Dalli and the Tunisian Minister of Intenational Co-operation, Fathi Merdassi.

Minister Joe Borg also met with the Tunisian Foreign Minister, Habib Ben Yahia and matters of bilateral interest were discussed, as well as the crises in the Middle East and regional co-operation between Mediterranean countries. Minister Borg also had the opportunity to meet with the Tunisian organization for Industry, Trade and Crafts (UTICA) where the possibilities of co-operation between private investors of both countries were discussed.

In the evening, Minister Joe Borg attended the inauguration of the Representative Office of the Bank of Valletta in Tunis.

During his meetings Minister Borg explained that the two Governments, by signing the Double Taxation Agreement and the Investment Guarantee Agreement had created the legal infrastructure paving the way for investors of both countries to invest in each others economies. Dr Borg added that the opening of the Bank of Valletta office provides an added dimenstion, facilitating investments and would provide advice to businessmen and entrepreneurs who were thinking of investing in Malta or in Tunisia.