2000年-世界发展银行全球_Repbulic_of_Tunisia_-_Private_Sector_Assessment_Update___Meeting_the_Challenge_of_Globalization_Volume_3_Annexes_111页_9mb

Tunisia Private Sector Assessment Update Summary

Core Content

This document provides an overview of the reforms and data related to the private sector in Tunisia from 1994 to 1998. It outlines various measures aimed at enhancing the private sector's role in the economy, improving access to finance, reducing fiscal disincentives, improving skills and technology, reducing the state's direct economic involvement, facilitating trade, and improving the legal and regulatory framework. The report also includes data on the structure and characteristics of the private sector, as well as a survey of private enterprises.

Main Objectives and Measures

A. Promote Internal and External Competition

• Liberalize foreign trade:

  • Association Agreement with the European Union (AAEU) signed in 1995, removing trade barriers on non-agricultural commodities over 12 years.
  • Shift from positive to negative list regime in 1994.
  • Exemption of capital goods with no close domestic substitutes from import duties since 1996.
  • Gradual removal of import licensing and quantitative restrictions starting in 1992, accelerated in 1994.
  • Reduced trade-related transaction costs through the convertibility of the dinar in 1994.

• Promote greater competition in domestic markets:

  • A competition and price reform law introduced in 1991 and strengthened in 1994.
  • A Competition Council was established to enforce competition law.
  • Prices were deregulated.

B. Facilitate Access to Finance

• Reduce public sector dominance in banking:

  • Banque du Sud was privatized in 1997, with government share less than 34%.
  • UIB, a public bank, is planned for privatization after merging with BTEI.
  • Government plans to merge other development banks.
  • Financial liberalization in the 1990s ended an era of low interest rates.
  • Prudential regulation improved the management of non-performing loans.

• Develop capital markets:

  • Corporate tax rate reduced to 20% for firms issuing shares on the stock market.

• Develop risk capital for SMEs:

  • FOPRODI reformed to participate in SME equity alongside SICARs.

C. Reduce Fiscal Disincentives

• Simplify the Investment Code:

  • A unified investment code replaced sectoral codes in 1994.
  • Indirect and partial exporters receive the same tax advantages as offshore firms.

• Improve Taxation:

  • Direct taxation simplified in the early 1990s.
  • Statutory corporate tax rates reduced from 60% to 35%.

D. Improve Skills and Technology

• Improve availability of skilled manpower:

  • Labor market reforms introduced fixed-term contracts and labor shedding in 1994.
  • Vocational training schemes reformed to better meet industry needs.

• Re-orient technology infrastructure:

  • Technical Centers reformed through performance contracts with incentives and penalties.
  • Increased user fees from private sector services.
  • A national metrology system is being established.

E. Reduce the State's Direct Economic Activities

• Accelerate privatization:

  • Law 94-102 accelerated the privatization program.

• Promote private participation:

  • Concession of the Radès power plant in 1998.
  • Water sector concessions are ongoing.

F. Facilitate Trade

• Reduce trade transaction costs:
  • A comprehensive trade facilitation plan with electronic data interchange.
  • The Tunisie Trade Net established to implement the system.
  • Customs SINDA system updated and integrated with other trade systems.
  • Customs procedures under review.

G. Improve Legal and Regulatory Framework

• Create appropriate rules-of-the-game:
  • New Company Law under consideration.
  • Study on legal and judicial system reforms conducted in 1998.

Private Sector Structure and Characteristics

Table 2.1: Sectoral Shares and Contributions to GDP Growth (1995-1998)

• Agriculture and Fishery:

  • Value Added: 1573 to 2077 (1995-1998).
  • Growth Rates: 29.5% to -1.0%.
  • Share in GDP: 13.7% to 15.2%.

• Manufacturing Industries:

  • Value Added: 2404 to 2739.
  • Growth Rates: 2.7% to 3.6%.
  • Share in GDP: 20.9% to 7.3%.

• Agro Processing Industries:

  • Value Added: 426 to 491.
  • Growth Rates: 1.9% to -5.0%.
  • Share in GDP: 3.7% to 0.9%.

• Other Manufacturing Industries:

  • Value Added: 1978 to 2248.
  • Growth Rates: 2.9% to 5.7%.
  • Share in GDP: 17.2% to 19.7%.

• Non-Manufacturing Industries:

  • Value Added: 1587 to 1819.
  • Growth Rates: 4.3% to 6.4%.
  • Share in GDP: 13.8% to 17.7%.

• Services:

  • Value Added: 4582 to 5514.
  • Growth Rates: 6.3% to 39.9%.
  • Share in GDP: 39.9% to 40.4%.

• GDP at Factor Cost: 11491 to 13663.

• Indirect Taxes Minus Subsidies: 1583 to 1842.

• GDP at Market Price: 13074 to 15506.

Table 2.2: Firm Size by Employment and Sector

• Agriculture: 399 firms.
• Fish: 173 firms.
• Oil and Gas Exploration: 33 firms.
• Agroindustry: 2386 firms.
• Textile and Clothing: 2362 firms.
• Construction Material: 288 firms.
• Total: 46340 firms.

Table 2.3: Size Distribution of Private Firms in the Industrial Sector (1998)

• Agro Industry: 426 firms.
• Construction Material: 288 firms.
• Mechanical and Metallurgical Industries: 432 firms.
• Electric and Electronics: 196 firms.
• Chemical Industry: 334 firms.
• Textiles and Clothing: 1822 firms.
• Wood and Wood Products: 109 firms.
• Leather and Shoes: 232 firms.
• Total: 4083 firms.

Table 2.4: Investments in Onshore and Offshore Sectors (Millions of Dinar)

• Agro-industry:
  • Offshore: 26.9 (1990), 0.4 (1995), 60.6 (1998).
  • Onshore: 146.8 (1990), 318.8 (1995), 329.5 (1998).
• Textile and Clothing:
  • Offshore: 233.2 (1990), 67.8 (1995), 124.5 (1998).
  • Onshore: 170.6 (1990), 129.9 (1995), 64.2 (1998).
• Mechanical & Electrical:
  • Offshore: 21.7 (1990), 18.4 (1995), 61 (1998).
  • Onshore: 169.7 (1990), 90.8 (1995), 109.1 (1998).
• Chemicals:
  • Offshore: 12.4 (1990), 19.3 (1995), 15.2 (1998).
  • Onshore: 37.7 (1990), 62.4 (1995), 81.6 (1998).
• Miscellaneous:
  • Offshore: 16.2 (1990), 16.6 (1995), 20.5 (1998).
  • Onshore: 114.4 (1990), 128.1 (1995), 107.1 (1998).
• Total Offshore: 319 (1990), 146.7 (1995), 291.7 (1998).
• Total Onshore: 735.4 (1990), 899.1 (1995), 874.4 (1998).

Table 2.5: Private Investment in Tunisia (1983-1998)

• Private Investment/GDP (%):
  • 1983-86: 13.5.
  • 1987-91: 10.6.
  • 1992-95: 12.3.
  • 1995: 11.7.
  • 1996: 11.7.
  • 1997: 12.4.
  • 1998: 12.8.
• Private Investment/Total Investment (%):
  • 1983-86: 47.5.
  • 1987-91: 48.9.
  • 1992-95: 46.5.
  • 1995: 48.4.
  • 1996: 50.6.
  • 1997: 50.4.
  • 1998: 51.0.
• Other Countries (1990-95):
  • All Developing Countries: 16.5.
  • Europe, Middle East and North Africa: 12.3.
  • East Asia: 25.6.
  • Latin America and the Caribbean: 14.6.

Table 2.6: Tunisia's Mean MFN Tariffs and Post-Uruguay Round Tariffs (1996)

• MFN Simple Mean Tariff Rate (1996):
  • Live Animals & Products: 35.5.
  • Vegetable Products: 33.5.
  • Fats & Oils: 32.0.
  • Prepared Food: 37.2.
  • Mineral Products: 17.6.
  • Chemicals & Products: 23.8.
  • Plastics & Rubber: 26.5.
  • Hides & Skins: 32.7.
  • Wood and Articles: 30.6.
  • Pulp, Paper, etc.: 33.0.
  • Textile & Articles: 36.7.
  • Footwear, Headgear: 38.3.
  • Articles of Stones: 31.0.
  • Base Metals & Products: 22.9.
  • Machinery: 25.5.
  • Transport Equipment: 24.2.
  • Precision Instruments: 27.1.
  • Arms and Ammunition: N/A.
  • Misc. Manufactures: 35.2.
  • Works of Art: N/A.
• Post-Uruguay Round Simple Mean Bound Rate:
  • Live Animals & Products: 116.7.
  • Vegetable Products: 128.1.
  • Fats & Oils: 120.5.
  • Prepared Food: 113.4.
  • Mineral Products: 25.5.
  • Chemicals & Products: 38.3.
  • Plastics & Rubber: 36.0.
  • Hides & Skins: 68.5.
  • Wood and Articles: 36.5.
  • Pulp, Paper, etc.: 34.2.
  • Textile & Articles: 57.7.
  • Footwear, Headgear: 41.6.
  • Articles of Stones: 35.6.
  • Base Metals & Products: 29.1.
  • Machinery: 27.4.
  • Transport Equipment: 28.6.
  • Precision Instruments: 33.3.
  • Arms and Ammunition: N/A.
  • Misc. Manufactures: 41.0.
  • Works of Art: N/A.
• Bound Tariff Lines (%):
  • Live Animals & Products: 56.4.
  • Vegetable Products: 100.0.
  • Fats & Oils: 92.7.
  • Prepared Food: 93.4.
  • Mineral Products: 3.1.
  • Chemicals & Products: 34.9.
  • Plastics & Rubber: 73.8.
  • Hides & Skins: 47.3.
  • Wood and Articles: 46.7.
  • Pulp, Paper, etc.: 39.0.
  • Textile & Articles: 96.6.
  • Footwear, Headgear: 19.7.
  • Articles of Stones: 16.9.
  • Base Metals & Products: 25.3.
  • Machinery: 47.6.
  • Transport Equipment: 47.7.
  • Precision Instruments: 61.7.
  • Arms and Ammunition: N/A.
  • Misc. Manufactures: 22.6.
  • Works of Art: N/A.

Table 2.7: Industrial Electricity Tariffs (1997)

• Japan: 0.146 US$/kWH.
• Morocco: 0.129 US$/kWH.
• Switzerland: 0.102 US$/kWH.
• Portugal: 0.098 US$/kWH.
• Italy: 0.094 US$/kWH.
• Lebanon: 0.088 US$/kWH.
• Austria: 0.081 US$/kWH.
• Colombia: 0.080 US$/kWH.
• Argentina: 0.079 US$/kWH.
• Turkey: 0.077 US$/kWH.
• Bolivia: 0.077 US$/kWH.
• Uruguay: 0.077 US$/kWH.
• Germany: 0.072 US$/kWH.
• Chile: 0.070 US$/kWH.
• Taiwan: 0.069 US$/kWH.
• United Kingdom: 0.065 US$/kWH.
• Ecuador: 0.065 US$/kWH.
• Denmark: 0.064 US$/kWH.
• Spain: 0.064 US$/kWH.
• Ireland: 0.063 US$/kWH.
• (South) Korea: 0.063 US$/kWH.
• Netherlands: 0.063 US$/kWH.
• Tunisia: 0.062 US$/kWH.
• Thailand: 0.061 US$/kWH.
• Australia: 0.056 US$/kWH.
• Belgium: 0.055 US$/kWH.
• Hungary: 0.054 US$/kWH.
• Greece: 0.053 US$/kWH.
• Czech Republic: 0.052 US$/kWH.
• Finland: 0.052 US$/kWH.
• Peru: 0.052 US$/kWH.
• Slovak Republic (Slovakia): 0.052 US$/kWH.
• France: 0.049 US$/kWH.
• Mexico: 0.048 US$/kWH.
• United States: 0.044 US$/kWH.
• New Zealand: 0.043 US$/kWH.
• Poland: 0.036 US$/kWH.
• Sweden: 0.034 US$/kWH.
• Algeria: 0.030 US$/kWH.

Private Enterprise Survey

Introduction

• Conducted in the fall of 1999 as part of a World Bank PSA update.
• Surveyed 396 private enterprises in Tunisia.
• Questionnaire designed by the World Bank and implemented by IACE.
• Includes 125 questions and covers firm characteristics such as size, ownership, location, and export activities.

Sample Characteristics

• Main Sample: 300 small, medium, and large firms.
• Supplementary Sample: 96 microenterprises.
• Stratification: Based on region, sector, and size.
• Sample Distribution:
  • Agriculture: 8.1%.
  • Manufacturing: 39.3%.
  • Construction: 4.2%.
  • Services: 32.0%.
  • Commerce: 16.4%.
• Firm Size Distribution:
  • Micro (1-5 workers): 25%.
  • Small (6-20): 38%.
  • Medium (21-100): 25%.
  • Large (>100): 12%.

Exports

• Export Percentage of Sales:
  • Small Firms: 5%.
  • Medium Firms: 10%.
  • Large Firms: 41%.
• Export Destinations:
  • France: Leading destination.
  • Italy, Germany, Libya: Also significant.
• Services Sector:
  • Only 7% of firms export, likely due to survey design or sample composition (no hotels included).

Key Information and Findings

• The private sector in Tunisia has undergone significant reforms since 1994, including trade liberalization, financial sector reforms, and improvements in the legal and regulatory environment.
• The services sector, despite its potential, shows limited export activity, possibly due to the survey's focus on non-hotel firms.
• The survey highlights the importance of balancing entrepreneur perspectives with other data sources to gain a comprehensive understanding of private sector challenges and opportunities.
• Tunisia's electricity tariffs are relatively low compared to other countries, indicating a competitive advantage in energy costs.