globalEDGE NEWSLETTER
Tunisia
We at globalEDGE have recently added an International Internship Directory under our Academy section. The Directory is a reference guide for students, faculty, staff, and administrators to help match students with international internship opportunities offered by two and four-year colleges and universities, governmental agencies, non-profit groups, private organizations, and corporations.
Tunisia ranks as the most globally competitive country in Africa and the 36th most globally-competitive country in the world, According to the World Economic Forum's Global Competitiveness Report (2008/2009).
Home of the fallen empire of Carthage, Tunisia boasts a rapidly expanding economy, and seeks to become a large player on the global business spectrum. This tiny nation in Northern Africa is predominantly Muslim (98%), and has a population of roughly 10.5 million people. Although Tunisia's economy has traditionally been under rigid state control, it has recently become much more liberalized. The nation's re-entrance into the private international capital market has served as a factor that influenced its recent economic progress. Historically, Tunisia has relied on oil, phosphates, agriculture, auto parts manufacturing, and tourism. Many of the actions which have led Tunisia into economic prominence are being heralded as a blueprint for the economic reformation of other nations. Policies such as liberalization of prices, reduction of tariffs, lowering of debt-service-to-exports and debt-to-GDP ratios, and extension of the average maturity of Tunisia's $10 billion foreign debt have all helped put Tunisia on the cusp of global financial prominence. According to Ireland-based International Living magazine, Tunisia ranked first among Arab nations in quality of life. Coupled with its distinction for high quality, low price properties, it can be expected that Tunisia will experience a good deal of real estate growth in addition to other sectors of its economy.
Tunisia Could Hold the Secret for Developing Nations!
When the global financial crisis hit, many nations saw a drastic decrease in their national wealth. While suffered a slight decline in GDP by the end of 2008, its losses were not even close percentage-wise to those of other developed nations. The key to Tunisia's economic resilience may be due to the fact that it is still undergoing a period of rapid economic growth and development. It may also be due to the fact that Tunisia's economic backbone is based primarily on a labor-intensive workforce, and boasts a diversified economy with minimal exposure to the finance industry. Whatever the reason, Tunisia provides a strong example of what steps should be taken in order to get a country on the track to economic growth. When the global financial crisis hit, many nations saw a drastic decrease in their national wealth. While Tunisia suffered a slight decline in GDP by the end of 2008, its losses were not even close percentage-wise to those of other developed nations. The key to Tunisia's economic resilience may be due to the fact that it is still undergoing a period of rapid economic growth and development. It may also be due to the fact that Tunisia's economic backbone is based primarily on a labor-intensive workforce, and boasts a diversified economy with minimal exposure to the finance industry. Whatever the reason, Tunisia provides a strong example of what steps could be taken in order to get a country on the track to economic growth.
Tunisia Business is a comprehensive site which includes exchange rates, news feeds, and other subcategories of various aspects of Tunisian business. The site has information regarding property investment, the Tunisian economy, business etiquette, business incentives, the Tunisian taxation system, and investments in business projects in Tunisia, among other categories.
Tunisia Online offers a plethora of introductory information regarding the country of Tunisia. In addition to offering background on Tunisian history, society, government, and culture, Tunisia Online provides a comprehensive overview of Tunisia's economy, including economic indicators, exporting information, and investment information. The site also provides links to other major Tunisian sites.
The Africa module introduces students to the region by focusing predominantly on Sub-Saharan African nations. This module does not address Northern African nations as these nations are technically part of the greater Middle East and have been discussed in another module. After reading this module, one should have a general understanding of the following: General issues in Africa that affect business prospects; business conduct in Senegal and Senegalese attempts to liberalize the economy; the emerging business climate in Rwanda and the role of women in the economy; a general understanding of the economic implications from the recent violence in Kenya; how to conduct business in South Africa; and a general understanding of how AIDS affects economic growth in Africa. A case study on AIDS in Africa is included in this module.
Category: Online Course Modules
This site, hosted by The Chronicle of Higher Education, offers a number of
news items and advice columns that will help both the seasoned professional
and the new job-seeker.
Category: Career Advice
"How to Go Offshore - Set up a Captive Unit or Outsource?" by Mahesh Ramamani
Firms today are facing increased pressure from shareholders to cut down costs of operation and one of the ways firms have cut costs effectively with limited changes to their strategy is to look at offshore production of firm's activities. While outsourcing firms offer easy offshore solutions in well developed and defined markets, firms are increasingly investing in establishing a foreign subsidiary in a low cost offshore location with a view to withholding control of processes and knowledge of their critical activities. Hybrid arrangements involving a combination of outsourcing and captive unit strategies are also increasingly becoming common. How does a firm know which is the best way to go offshore - setting up a foreign subsidiary in an offshore location or engaging with an offshore based outsourcing provider? What are the considerations that managers take into account while they make this decision? What are the enablers and barriers in either of the strategies? These are some questions that will be addressed in this article.
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