Estonia and Tunisia

Bilateral relations

The Republic of Tunisia recognised the Republic of Estonia on 2 September 1992. Diplomatic relations were established on 29 June 1992.

From 2001-2002 the Tunisian Ambassador to Estonia was Mr. Ali Bousnina. Since 16 February 2006 the Tunisian Ambassador to Estonia has been Mr. Bechir Chebaane. The ambassador resides in Warsaw.

On 30 January 2008 the Estonian Honorary Consulate in Tunisia was opened. The Estonian Honorary Consul in Tunisia is Mr. Jelil Bouraoui.

From 2001-2002 the Tunisian Ambassador to Estonia was Mr. Ali Bousnina.

Currently the Tunisian ambassador to Estonia is Nadra Rais Drije. The ambassador resides in Warsaw.

On 25 January 2013 Sven Jürgenson was appointed the first ever Estonian ambassador to Tunisia. He resides in Paris.

On 30 January 2008 the Estonian Honorary Consulate in Tunisia was opened. The Estonian Honorary Consul in Tunisia is Mr. Jelil Bouraoui.

Visits

• March 2012 – Foreign Minister Urmas Paet’s visit to Tunisia
• January 2008 – Foreign Minister’s chef de cabinet Jüri Seilenthal visited Tunisia for the opening of the first Estonian Honorary Consulate in Tunis, Tunisia.
• November 2005 – Estonian Minister of Economic Affairs and Communications Edgar Savisaar attended the Information Society Congress in Tunisia
• January 2005 – Tunisian State Secretary for European Relations Mohamed Hatem Ben Salemi visited Estonia
• June 1992 – Tunisian Minister of Health Daly Jazi visited Estonia

Agreements

An agreement for co-operation in culture, education and research was signed 27 January 2005.

Economic relations

Estonia-Tunisia trade 2006-2012 (millions EUR):

Estonia’s primary export articles in 2012 were wood and wood products, metals and metal products, and paper and paper products.
Import from Tunisia was modest. In 2012 imports mainly consisted of paper and paper products as well as machinery and equipment.

All economic data from Statistics Estonia.

Development co-operation

In 2012 the Estonian Foreign Ministry in co-operation with the US Agency for International Development (USAID) supported the development of open governance and e-governance in Tunisia. Within the framework of the project, the e-Governance Academy organised a training course in Estonia for high Tunisian state officials and partners of the state, during which they became acquainted with Estonia’s experiences with modernising governance with the help of new technologies.

Estonians in Tunisia

From 1911-1912 the Estonian artist Ants Laikmaa lived in Tunisia and documented the local people and way of life in his works.

In the 1920s messages began appearing about Estonia’s first post-war contacts with Tunisia. However, regular trade was not achieved. In the years 1923 and 1925 the Estonian freight carrier “Ellind” visited the ports of Tunisia, and a review of these trips by sailor J. Adams appeared in the newspaper Päevaleht. In 1925 two young men from Tartu, Evald Märks and Karl Nurk, spent some time in Tunisia. In November of the same year they set off from the city of Gafsa on their 7-month hike through the Sahara Desert.
The global economic depression that arose in 1929 had an obvious impact on Tunisia. However, it was during these years that Estonian products managed to break into the Tunisian market. From 1932-1939 Estonian export to Tunisia reached 205 tons of goods with a total value of about 65 000 kroons. The goods sold in Tunisia were primarily printing paper, meat products, butter, cheese, and canned fish. Estonian imports from Tunisia, primarily exotic foodstuffs, were minimal – slightly over 4 tons valuing 1 600 kroons.
An Estonian consular representation was not established in Tunisia. When necessary, problems were resolved by the Estonian consul in Algiers and the vice consul in Oran.

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