Private investment in agriculture and fisheries, approved by the APIA, fell 5.9% to 298.9 MD, between the first 10 months of 2011 and 2012.
According to the monthly newsletter of the Agency for the Promotion of Agricultural Investments these approved investments will generate 3,951 permanent jobs, including only 185 jobs for graduates, against 3,916 jobs in 2011 (179 for graduates).
The geographical distribution of approved investments shows that the governorate of Mahdia ranks first with 28.6 million dinars (MTD), followed by Sidi Bouzid (26.8 MTD) Kasserine (26.4 MTD), Nabeul (23.3 MTD) Sousse (21.5 MTD) Sfax (18.8 MTD) and Gafsa (17.5 MTD).
All of these regions have attracted 54% of the overall investments.
Private agricultural investment posted a noticeable increase, especially in the governorates of Sousse (+52%) and Kairouan (+ 49%).
However, they decreased in half of the country’s governorates, especially in the governorate of Monastir (-58%), Zaghouan (-50%) and Gabes (45%).
Investment directed to agricultural activities and services
Investments are mainly oriented to agricultural activities (183.5 MTD, down 9.5%) and services (67.9 MD, up 107.6%).
The National Commission responsible for granting benefits approved until the end of October 2012, 89 land credits for a total of 5.5 MTD, against 106 land credits worth a total of 7.1 MD in 2011. These funds will enable 89 young entrepreneurs to set up their own business.
With respect to investments made by young entrepreneurs, they have evolved by 4.7% to 43.8 MTD in 2012. Investments made by Tunisians abroad, by contrast, fell by 7%, to 6.4 MD at the end of October 2012 and investment of companies with foreign participation amounted to 3.7 MTD in 2012 (+6.7%).
The financing rate of agricultural investments by banks has declined from 20.9% in 2011 to 17% in 2012.
According to APIA, agricultural investment intentions reported until the end of November 2012 stood at 400 million dinars (MTD), rising by 2% compared to 2011.
