Investments reported in the industrial sector grew by 41.9% in the first quarter of 2012 compared with the same period of 2011, reaching 1,063 million Tunisian dinars (MTD), compared to 749.2 million dinars, according to the newsletter of the Agency for Promotion of Industry and Innovation (APII).
According the same source, the number of reported projects reached 1,170 over the first three months of 2012 compared with 920 in the first quarter of 2011.
These projects, also said the APII, will create about 21,479 jobs, against 17,561 jobs in the first three months of 2011, i.e. up 22.3%.
The increase in reported investment involved all sectors, says the APII newsletter.
The leather and footwear industries of increased by 802.5% during the first quarter of 2012 with reported investments at 36.1 MTD against 4 MTD in the first three months of 2011, following the announcement of the extension of a fully exporting shoe making unit for 28.9 MTD, the source said.
Miscellaneous industries also rose 96.6% with investments of 361.7 MTD reported during the first three months of 2012 against 184 MTD during the same period in 2011 due, in particular, to the announcement of the establishment of a fully exporting unit for recycling of used tires, with investments of 196.2 MTD.
Investments reported in the textile-clothing went up 53.4% during the first three months of 2012 with investments of around 34.2 MTD against 22.3 MTD in the same period in 2011.
APII explained this increase by the declaration of the extension of a manufacturing unit of twine, cordage and fishing nets for 7 MTD.
Regarding the chemical sector (IC), investments reported in this area grew by 42.6% to reach 67.3 MTD compared with 47.2 million dinars in the first three months of 2011.
This increase is due, it said, to the announcement of the creation of a manufacturing unit for pharmaceutical products for a total of 9.7 MTD, the extension of a manufacturing unit of pharmaceuticals worth 8.7 million dinars and the creation of a manufacturing unit of flocculants (chemical reagents used in water treatment) for 8.4 MTD.
A 21.2% increase in reported investments was also recorded in the field of mechanical and electrical industries.
During the first quarter of 2012 the amount of investments reported in this sector reached 182.2 MTD against 150.4 MTD in the same period of 2011, mainly following the announcement of the creation of a manufacturing unit of wire, mesh and welded steel for construction for 11.8 MTD, the announcement of the creation of a manufacturing household appliances unit (11.6 MTD) and the extension of a fully exporting unit of wire harnesses (9.4 MTD).
The increase in reported investment has also involved the industries of building materials, ceramics and glass (IMCCV), reaching 107 million dinars against 93.8 million dinars during the first three months of 2011, i.e. up 14.1%, according to the same source.
This growth resulted from the announcement of the extension of a brickyard for 13.2 MTD and the announcement of the creation of another at a cost of 9 million dinars.
The agribusiness sector has recorded, in turn, an increase of 10.9% with reported investments of 274.5 MTD against 247.5MTD in the first three months of 2011, following the declaration of the creation of an entirely exporting tomato puree processing unit (18 million dinars) and the expansion of an animal feed manufacturing unit (16.3 million dinars).
