Tunisian President, Beji Caid Essebsi, has paid a visit to Riyadh on 22 and 23 December at the invitation of King Salman Bin Abdelaziz Al Saud. According to reports from the news agency Tunisian “Tap”, the visit reflects the will of Saudi Arabia to foster relations of partnership with Tunisia in various sectors, especially political and economic.

Essebsi met with Saudi investors in a forum held at the initiative of the Chamber of local entrepreneurs. On the sidelines of the event it was held a meeting of the Tunisian-Saudi business council. During the visit they were signed agreements and memorandums of understanding in the fields of energy, civil protection and transport of goods and people.

The defense ministers of the two countries also signed a memorandum of cooperation. Essebsi will end his trip with a visit to earth Saudi expatriate Tunisians.Cooperation between Tunis and Riyadh is governed by 54 bilateral and three mechanisms: the joint commission, the commission of political consultation at the level of foreign ministers, the business council.

Saudi Arabia is the third largest investor in Tunisia, where there are 38 Saudi companies or with Saudi participation for investments worth about 1.697 billion Tunisian dinars (about 769 million euro) and 10,319 direct jobs. The total volume of investments of Saudi companies is close to 544 million Tunisian dinars (267 million dollars).