Tunisia eyes Gulf markets to export olive oil
TUNIS: Minister of Agriculture, Water Resources, and Fisheries Samir Al-Taieb said yesterday that Tunisia awaits a record olive oil harvest this year of nearly 300,000 tons, compared to 100,000 in 2016. The ministry has already prepared a plan to export this year’s harvest to several markets around the world, including GCC, Taieb said. “We aim to boost Tunisian olive oil presence in Gulf countries, especially after it successfully found a place in their markets, and gained popularity among Gulf people,” he noted.
The Tunisian minister also indicated that his country faces no difficulties or obstacles in promoting its olive oil in international markets. Tunisian olive oil is renowned for its distinctive characteristics and premium quality, said Taieb. It is also one of the top-quality oils in the world, he noted, adding the “Japanese people, for instance, consider Tunisian olive oil as one of the best-quality worldwide.” In 2016, the EU has increased its share of Tunisian olive oil in the European markets, Taieb noted.
Tunis exported nearly 70,000 tons of olive oil to the EU in 2016, and plans to export 100,000 tons of this year’s harvest to the Union, he added. He also indicated that his country also exports its national olive oil heavily to the United States, East Asia, Gulf region, Russia, and some African countries. Al-Taieb disclosed that his ministry has prepared a plan to boost “agricultural diplomacy” with Gulf markets in cooperation with Tunisia’s National Office for Oil and olive oil producers in the country. “We intend to increase our promotional campaigns in GCC states, particularly Kuwait, through organizing popular festivals on Tunisian olive oil,” he said. Kuwait and Tunisia are linked by a historic investment relationship, Al-Taieb noted. He also added that his ministry will work with Tunisian and Gulf diplomats to help promote Tunisian olive oil in GCC markets.
“We will discuss with Gulf ambassadors in Tunisia on ways to bolster Tunisian olive oil presence in Gulf markets and overcome all obstacles in that regard,” he said. The Tunisian minister also mentioned that he will soon be visiting Gulf countries to help promote his country’s national product.
‘Italian’ oil
Meanwhile, Taieb said that Tunis exports large quantities of raw olive oil to Italy, only to be bottled there and sold in several markets as an “Italian” olive oil. He also said that his country exports only 10 percent of its olive oil production in bottles, while rest of the harvest is all sold raw to Italy. He pointed out his ministry’s goal this year to export 20 percent of its olive oil harvest in bottles, which is nearly 50,000 tons.
On investing in Tunisia’s agricultural sector, Taieb said that his country’s new investment law provides several unprecedented privileges for investors. The new law, approved last April by the government, does not differentiate between Tunisian and foreign investors as both will enjoy same privileges and facilitations. It has so far contributed in elevating investment plans by 80 percent, he said, adding that the law offers a three-year tax exemption for new companies. All possibilities are available to increase foreign investment in Tunisian agricultural sector, particularly Arab and Gulf investments.
Gulf investments have had a significant mark in Tunisia’s history, and contributed effectively in the development of several vital sectors, said Taieb. He urged Gulf investors, particularly Kuwaitis, to take advantage of the new investment law’s facilitations, and visit the country to look at investment opportunities and projects. Tunisia is currently ranked world’s second in terms of area devoted to olive plantations after Spain. These areas cover 1.8 million hectares and include over 86 million olive trees. —KUNA