Oral history interview with Noureddine Zekri, 2015
Abstract
Noureddine Zekri describes how government units operated under Zine El Abidine Ben Ali, stating that many were quite independent of Ben Ali himself. After the Tunisian Revolution, Zekri headed the Foreign Investment Promotion Agency, which attempted to resuscitate declining rates of foreign investment, local investment, and tourism. He enumerates the crucial actors in Tunisia's transition, who were supported in their efforts by former president Habib Bourguiba's policies and investments. He describes Tunisia's business environment since the 1980s, with an imbalance in investment across regions and lack of opportunity. Zekri discusses the link between informal trade and terrorism, especially with respect to weapons and drugs. He emphasizes economic challenges in the transition, including finance reform, negotiating trade deals and visa programs with the World Trade Organization (WTO) and the European Union (EU), improving conditions for foreign businesses, and re-orienting towards African markets. Foremost, he thinks Tunisia must signal a newfound stability to potential investors, but continued terrorist threats are an obstacle. Zekri narrates his recruitment to Mehdi Jomaa's cabinet, and his prior working relationship with Jomaa during his tenures at the Ministry of Industry and Hutchison
Arab Spring, 2010-; Terrorism--Tunisia; Tunisia Officials and employees; Tunisia History Demonstrations, 2010-; Tunisia Politics and government 1987-2011; Tunisia Politics and government 2011-; Tunisia Economic conditions; Zekri, Noureddine; Jomaa, Mehdi; Bin ʻAlī, Zayn al-ʻĀbidīn
Format
oral histories
Genre
Interviews
Date
2015
Physical Description
59 pages
Note (Biographical)
Noureddine Zekri was appointed Secretary of State for Development and International Cooperation in the technocratic government in 2014. In 2013, he was appointed chairman of the Euro-Mediterranean Investment Network ANIMA. From 2005 to 2011, he was di rector general of the Ministry of Development and International Cooperation. From 1980 to 2005, he was deputy Director of Tax Incentive Management and Head of Promotion for the Agency for the Promotion of Industry and Innovation. From 1978 to 1980, he was an executive in the Tunisian National Tourist Office
Note
Interviewed by Adam Reich on May 19, 2015
Note (Provenance)
Noureddine Zekri, Gift, transferred from Columbia Center for Oral History Research 2018