– Forum highlights Tunisian Government push for foreign investment and country’s top investment opportunities –


[Tunis, 04 June 2013]: Tunis Financial Harbour (TFH), the commercial gateway to North Africa, today announced its participation in Business & Finance Tunisia 2013, the premier investment forum in the country attended by the Prime Minister of Tunisia Mr. Ali Larayedh, the Minister of Development and International Cooperation Mr. Lamine Doghri, Mr. Ridha Saidi Minister in charge of Economic and social affairs with the Prime Minister and Official Government Ministers and ambassadors in addition to more than 500 local, regional and international investors, businessmen and media.

The high profile event, held between 26- 28 May 2013, served as a platform to highlight investment opportunities across key sectors in Tunisia, which has seen major multinationals like Microsoft, Kia Motors and Qatar Telecom establish a local presence in recent years, and to create a forum for connecting investors from around the world with local partners.

TFH, as one of country’s landmark projects, featured prominently at the forum serving as an example of the considerable opportunities available in the country and also served as a model for co-operation between local and international investors in Tunisia. The US$3 billion mixed use development was launched in 2008 as joint venture between Bahrain based Gulf Finance House (GFH) and local investors seeking to create a financial services gateway at the crossroads of the Mediterranean, Middle East and Africa.

Commenting on the event, Mr. Lotfi Ezzar, CEO of TFH, said: “Tunis Financial Harbour was among the key attractions of the forum and we’re pleased to have had the opportunity to present the project to the Prime Minister, the invitees and the new investors seeking opportunities in Tunisia as well as to emphasize the contributions TFH has and will continue to make in terms of attracting foreign investment into the country. This is a critical time in Tunisia’s growth and we are proud to be supporting the Government’s goal of further diversifying the economy and building on the country’s strong foundations. We have put in place a comprehensive plan for TFH, which will see the project develop into a financial gateway connecting Europe, the Middle East and Africa and in turn helping Tunisia emerge as a leading hub for commercial and leisure tourism.”

Mr. Elias Karaan, Senior Executive Director of GFH (the project sponsor bank), added: “We were delighted to have taken part in this event, which provided a showcase for innovative investment opportunities and projects such as TFH and more broadly the country itself. The forum highlighted Tunisia’s unique geographic position, its highly skilled and educated work force and its strong probusiness policies and infrastructure. Importantly, it also served to underscore the Government’s deep commitment to attracting and supporting greater foreign investment, as noted by attending officials, in order to drive growth and further development in the post-revolutionary period.”


TFH, to be built across 523 hectares, aims to be the first world-class offshore financial centre in North Africa. This vision is supported by its strategic position on the Mediterranean just 25km north of Tunis and only 15km from Carthage International Airport. TFH’s location and its infrastructure will offer easy access for skills, knowledge and investment capital to flow from within the region and from international markets into Tunisia and Africa. In addition to a business hub, TFH has been master-planned to serve as a modern urban environment where residents and their families can live and work. Once fully developed, TFH will feature Residential and Retail spaces, an 18 hole championship golf course, a beach community, souk, marina and shopping malls as well as a business university, which will together create 16,000 jobs and accommodate 110,000 residents.


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About Tunis Financial Harbour:

TFH, to be built across 523 hectares, aims to be the first world class offshore financial centre in North Africa. This vision is supported by its strategic position on the Mediterranean just 25km north of Tunis and only 15km from Carthage International Airport. TFH’s location and its infrastructure will offer easy access for skills, knowledge and investment capital to flow from within the region and from international markets into Tunisia and Africa. In addition to a business hub, TFH has been master planned to serve as a modern urban environment where residents and their families can live and work. Once fully developed, TFH will feature Residential and Retail spaces, an 18 hole championship golf course, a beach community, souk, marina and shopping malls as well as a business university, which will together create 16,000 jobs and accommodate 110,000 residents.


About Gulf Finance House:

Since its establishment in 1999, Bahrain based Gulf Finance House (GFH) has while distinguished by managing and placing investment in the Middle East and North Africa “MENA” region. Banks activities are focused on development of Islamic Financial Institutions, Infrastructure Projects, Private Equities, and Asset Management. GFH is listed on the Kuwait Stock Exchange, the Bahraini Stock Exchange, the Dubai Financial Market and the London Stock Exchange in the form of a GDR.


For further information please contact:

Nawal Al-Naji
Corporate Communications Department
Tel: +973 17538538
Email: nalnaji@gfh.com
Website: www.gfh.com