As part of the working program in Tunis from April 22–26, 2025, the Vietnam Trade Office in Algeria (concurrently responsible for Tunisia) collaborated with the Tunisian Union of Industry, Trade, and Handicrafts (UTICA) to organize an online business networking conference connecting enterprises from both countries.
During the visit, Commercial Counselor Hoang Duc Nhuan held meetings with leaders from the Department of Cooperation with Arab and ASEAN Countries, the Department of Commerce under the Ministry of Trade and Export Development, the Department of Asia under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Migration and Tunisians Abroad, and representatives from the Tunis Chamber of Commerce and Industry and UTICA, to discuss measures to strengthen bilateral trade relations.
Online Business Conference: Vietnam–Tunisia Connection
On April 24, 2025, the Trade Office and UTICA co-hosted the online conference, with participation from 60 representatives of Tunisian ministries, agencies, and enterprises from both sides.
Mr. Mohamed Koolie, Vice President of UTICA, emphasized that this event provides an excellent opportunity to promote economic and trade relations and suggested that similar meetings should be held at least twice a year.
Despite being a small country with an area of 163,610 km² and a population of about 12.5 million, Tunisia remains one of the most dynamic and competitive economies in the Arab–African region, boasting strong international integration and a strategic geographic position close to Europe (just 140 km away).
Tunisia has joined eight multilateral and bilateral Free Trade Agreements (FTAs), including the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), serving as a key gateway for goods from Vietnam to enter African and Arab markets, especially North Africa.
Each year, Tunisia imports around 30,000 tons of raw coffee (mainly Robusta), 30,000 tons of rice, and 360,000 tons of sugar. Basic commodities such as rice, sugar, coffee, and green tea are imported exclusively by the Tunisian Trade Office through international bidding. However, since 2024, under Law 120, certain private Tunisian companies have been granted licenses to import these goods directly.
According to Ms. Dalenda Mekki, Head of Promotion and International Relations of the Tunis Chamber of Commerce and Industry, bilateral trade between Vietnam and Tunisia reached USD 267 million in 2024, nearly tripling compared to 2023. Vietnam mainly exports footwear and materials, raw coffee, pepper, cashew nuts, seafood, machinery, razors, and textiles, while importing seafood, dates, chemicals, plastics, garments, and animal feed ingredients.
Strengthening Institutional and Legal Cooperation
Mr. Hoang Duc Nhuan highlighted the growing economic relations and introduced Vietnam’s trade policies and legal framework. Vietnam and Tunisia have signed several important agreements, including:
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Trade Agreement (1994) granting Most-Favored-Nation (MFN) status.
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Agreement on Economic, Cultural, and Technical Cooperation (1999).
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Framework Agreement on Agricultural Cooperation (2002).
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MoU on Business Cooperation between VCCI and UTICA (2005).
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Agreement on Visa Exemption for Diplomatic and Official Passports (2007).
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Agreement on the Avoidance of Double Taxation (2010).
The two countries have also held three sessions of the Intergovernmental Committee, the most recent in April 2018 in Tunis.
The Trade Office invited Tunisian enterprises to participate in major upcoming trade events in Vietnam such as the Vietnam International Sourcing Expo 2025 (September), Vietnam Food Expo (November), and Vietnam Expo (December).
Expanding Business Partnerships
UTICA’s Vice President, Mohamed Koolie, expressed admiration for Vietnam’s total trade turnover of USD 786.29 billion in 2024 and announced plans to send a business delegation to Vietnam in 2025. He encouraged Vietnamese companies to explore investment, joint venture, and cooperation opportunities in processing industries, new technologies, marine aquaculture, and consumer goods, leveraging Tunisia’s strategic location, skilled workforce, and access to regional markets.
Tunisia’s delegates also mentioned challenges such as rising export prices of Vietnamese commodities (coffee, pepper), increased shipping costs due to Middle East tensions, and high import tariffs on dates in Vietnam. They proposed negotiating a preferential bilateral trade agreement, reducing import duties, and establishing a Vietnam–Tunisia Business Council to enhance trade facilitation.
To further strengthen cooperation, both sides agreed to:
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Enhance trade promotion and delegation exchanges.
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Improve information sharing and dispute resolution.
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Support enterprises in attending major trade fairs in both countries.
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Promote mutual understanding and long-term partnerships.