- Aerolia, a French company has signed an agreement estimated at €60 million with the Tunisian government for the construction of a plant south of the capital Tunis, to produce front segments of Airbus planes, local news agency reported.
The plant which is expected to resume operations in 2010, is expected to employ 1,500 qualified personnel, the company's president Christian Cornille told local reporters at a press conference held in the capital.
According to the president, the reasons that prompted the company to build the plant in Tunisia were the high degree of competence of Tunisian engineers, the proximity to Europe, the logistics advantage of a nearby harbour, and the full support of the Tunisian government.
However, analysts are estimating that the current economic crisis will reduce aircraft orders by more than 50 percent.
A few days ago, the French government announced it would provide a package of aid amounting to $6.5 billion in state guarantees to help Airbus customers get financing for their purchases, according Tunisia online media.
Cornille downplayed the effects of the economic crisis on his company, stating he hoped that by 2010 they would be "less felt." He added further that Airbus had orders for some 3,700 planes throughout the world that it intended to honour.
Tunisia has a number of aeroplane parts companies which are moving into the country claiming it to be a cost reduction source due to its proximity to Europe yet companies get orders from Africa and the rest of the world.
afrol News - It is called "financial inclusion", and it is a key government policy in Rwanda. The goal is that, by 2020, 90 percent of the population is to have and actively use bank accounts. And in only four years, financial inclusion has doubled in Rwanda.
afrol News - The UN's humanitarian agencies now warn about a devastating famine in Sudan and especially in South Sudan, where the situation is said to be "imploding". Relief officials are appealing to donors to urgently fund life-saving activities in the two countries.
afrol News - Fear is spreading all over West Africa after the health ministry in Guinea confirmed the first Ebola outbreak in this part of Africa. According to official numbers, at least 86 are infected and 59 are dead as a result of this very contagious disease.
afrol News - It is already a crime being homosexual in Ethiopia, but parliament is now making sure the anti-gay laws will be applied in practical life. No pardoning of gays will be allowed in future, but activist fear this only is a signal of further repression being prepared.
afrol News / Africa Renewal - Ethiopia's ambitious plan to build a US$ 4.2 billion dam in the Benishangul-Gumuz region, 40 km from its border with Sudan, is expected to provide 6,000 megawatts of electricity, enough for its population plus some excess it can sell to neighbouring countries.
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