Japan-Tunisia Relations(Basic Data)

April 2013

Basic Data

Diplomatic Relations:: Established in June 1956; Japanese Embassy opened in Tunisia in 1969; Japan-Tunisia Joint Committee has taken place regularly since 1985. In February 2012, the 8th Joint Committee was held in Tokyo, represented by Mr. Bessho, Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs and Mr. Ben Abbes, Secretary of State under the Minister of Foreign Affairs on the Japanese and Tunisian sides respectively.
Bilateral Treaties and Agreements:: 1956 Visa Exemption Arrangement; 1960 Trading Arrangement
Number of Residents:: Number of Japanese residing in Tunisia: 172(October 2011); Number of Tunisian residing in Japan: 432 (January 2011)
Economic Relations:: Exports: to Japan 12.5 billion yen (2011) (electrical product, textile and sea foods); Imports: from Japan 8.2 billion yen (2011) (motorcar, machinery and electrical product)
Japan's Economic Cooperation (Cumulative total as of March 2011):: List of Exchange of Notes; Loans: 245 billion yen; Grants: 5.7 billion yen; Technical cooperation: 22.8 billion yen
Official Development Assistance (ODA):: (a) Japan provides support based on the Country Support Program of Tunisia, come into force in October 2002, mainly on loan and technical support. In providing support in important fields such as agriculture improvement, development and management of water resource, and approach to the environment, Japan is concerned with such aspects as developing human resources, which are mutual challenges in all of those fields.; (b) In March 1999, Japan and Tunisia signed the "Japan-Tunisia Triangular Technical Cooperation Program for The Promotion of South-South Cooperation in Africa".
RECENT MAJOR PROJECTS (Loan aid):: Borj Cedria Science and Technology Park Development Project (2005), Photovoltaic Rural Electrification and Water Supply Project (2005), Jendouba Rural Water Supply Project (2006 loan), Private Investment Credit Project (2006), National TV Broadcasting Center Project (2006), Water Saving Agriculture Project in Southern Oasis Area (2006), Integrated Reforestation Project(II) (2007), Project for Desalination of Groundwater in Southern Region (2009), Metropolitan Railway Electrification Project(II) (2009), Gabes-Medenine Trans-Maghrebin Corridor Construction Project (2011), Local Cities Water Supply Network Improvement Project (2011)
Cultural Relations:: (a)Tunisian students are sent to Japan as Japanese scholars every year; (b)Film, TV programs, music and sports exchange; (c)Cultural grants available upon requests; (d)Learning exchange; (e)Interactive exchange between cultures; (f)Sister cities solidarity (Seto and Nabul); (g)NGO interaction
Friendship League:: Japan-Tunisia Parliamentary League; Tunisia-Japan Parliamentary Friendship League; Japan Tunisia Association; Tunisia Japan Friendship Association

VIP Visits

From Japan to Tunisia(from 2003)

Year	Name
2003	Vice-President of House of Councillors, Shoji Motooka Minister for Foreign Affairs, Yoriko Kawaguchi
2004	Forme Prime Minister, Yoshiro Mori
2005	Parliamentary Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs, Katsuyuki Kawai Minister of Internal Affairs and Communication, Heizo Takenaka
2006	President of House of Representatives, Yohei Kono Parliamentary Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs, Shintaro Ito
2008	Parliamentary Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs, Osamu Uno Senior Vice-Minister of Environment, Ikuzo Sakurai
2009	Vice President of House of Councillors, Akiko Santo
2010	State Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry, Tadahiko Matsushita Minister of Foreign Affairs, Seiji Maehara Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry, Akihiko Oohata
2011	Parliamentary Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs, Kazuyuki Hamada
2012	Parliamentary Senior Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs, Ryuji Yamane Parliamentary Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs, Kazuyuki Hamada

From Tunisia to Japan(from 2003):

Year	Name
2003	Minister of Development and International Cooperation, Mohamed Nouri Jouini Prime Minister, Mohamed Ghannouchii
2004	Minister for Foreign Affairs, Habib Ben Yahia Minister of Development and International Cooperation, Mohamed Nouri Jouini
2005	Prime Minister, Mohamed Ghannouchi Minister of Development and International Cooperation, Mohamed Nouri Jouiri Minister of Justice ad Human Rights, Béchir Tekkari
2006	Minister of Health, Mohamed Ridha Kechrid Minister of Development and International Cooperation, Mohamed Nouri Jouini Minister for Foreign Affairs, Abdelwaheb Abdallah
2007	Minister of Development and International Cooperation, Mohamed Nouri Jouini
2008	Secretary of State under the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Saïda Chtioui President of the Chamber of Councillors, Abdallah Kallar Prime Minister, Mohamed Ghannouchi Minister of Development and International Cooperation, Mohamed Nouri Jouini Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research, Lahar Bououni
2009	Minister for Foreign Affairs, Abdelwaheb Abdallah Minister of Culture and Protection of national Heritage, Abderraouf El Basti Minister of Development and International Cooperation, Mohamed Nouri Jouini Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research, Lazhar Bououni
2011	Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mohamed Mouldi Kefi
2012	Secretary of State under the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Hédi Ben Abbès Minister of Foreign Affairs, Rafik Abdessalem Minister of Investment and International Cooperation, Riadh Bettaieb

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