When a trio of entrepreneurs decided to launch an internet company targeting francophone north Africa, they considered basing it in Casablanca, Rabat and Algiers, as well as France and Switzerland.

But with about $500,000 in seed money, they ultimately opted for Tunisia's capital on the Mediterranean, which only a year ago was the scene of a tumultuous revolution that set off a wave of unrest across the Middle East and north Africa. They were lured by reasonable infrastructure, well-trained labour and a competitive wage environment.

Yet there was also another factor. “Tunisian workers are very well educated and very cheap and the work ethic is strong,” says Said Ghalloum, a 41-year-old co-founder of LMS Software, which in March is launching a jobs portal to serve French-speaking Arab countries as well as the Middle East and north Africa. “Maybe it’s naive to say this, but the people of Tunisia just tasted freedom for the first time and maybe they also have something to prove.”

…“What I think,” says Mr Ghalloum, “is that Tunisia is going to be strategic in the Arab world.”

Source : Financial Time

'Caroline Akers, head of  the Africa Department of UK Trade and Investment, visited Tunisia Thursday, January 19th, to explore investment opportunities for British companies in Tunisia. The initiative aims at supporting the Tunisian economy, which has witnessed -1.85 growth in GDP for 2011.

UK Trade & Investment (UKTI) is a department of the British government that, “works with businesses based in the United Kingdom to ensure their success in international markets, and encourage the best overseas companies to look to the UK as their global partner of choice,” according to the agency’s website.

“We want to make Tunisia the best place for investment.” Mrs. Akers said. Akers also emphasized the importance of vocational training as a means of developing competitive skill-sets and augmenting Tunisia’s attractiveness to foreign investment.

Akers stated her optimism in Tunisia’s economic future in spite of the current uncertainty. “It is much easier to conduct business in Tunisia today than in the past. British investors are optimistic in spite of the strikes and sit-ins.” Akers asserted.

http://www.tunisia-live.net/2012/01/21/the-ukti-works-on-attracting-british-investors-to-tunisia/

'...'It will be important to manage this difficult transition in an orderly way. And here, I want to pay tribute especially to the people of Tunisia, who are going through a smooth and inclusive process of transition. Just as Tunisia provided the first spark of the Arab Spring, so now it can light the path forward for other countries in the region...'

http://www.imf.org/external/np/speeches/2011/120611.htm

'I have every confidence in the responsible decisions of the future Tunisian governments that will make all efforts for the real welfare of the people. In favor of true political and civil freedom, economic prosperity, social justice and an open and tolerant society.' Horst-Wolfram Kerll , Ambassador to Tunisia,  writes in an open forum.

http://kapitalis.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=6687:pour-que-la-tunisie-serve-de-modele-aux-autres-pays-de-la-region&catid=68:tribune&Itemid=70

The first election to materialise from the Arab Spring took place in Tunisia on Sunday and more than 90% of those registered turned out to vote.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/search/news/tunisia

Alan Little reports from Tunisia after the country's first free election following the ousting of dictator Zine el Abidine Ben Ali.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/search/news/tunisia

Final results aren't in yet but Tunisia's election is already being hailed as a model for other countries in the region.

http://edition.cnn.com/video/#/video/world/2011/10/25/lok-watson-tunisia-elections.cnn

'Ivan Watson reports on the first fair and free elections of this year's popular upheaval in the Arab world.

http://edition.cnn.com/video/#/video/world/2011/10/26/watson-tunisia-election-update.cnn

...set in train still raging elsewhere, Tunisia has again sent a signal of hope to a troubled...emerging from eight months of conflict. That Tunisia avoided such pitfalls is a tribute to...tried successfully in the Arab world, and Tunisia’s election campaign featured numerous clashes.

 Financial Times, October, 25, 2011

In the opinion of all observers, both foreign and Tunisian, the elections took place in an exemplary fashion. At this point, let's congratulate all those who contributed to this smooth operation. The ISIE but especially the army and the police ensured the security of the vote.

http://lecercle.lesechos.fr/economie-societe/international/afrique/221139201/gifle-electorale-lelite-autoproclamee-tunisienne

http://www.lemonde.fr/idees/article/2011/10/26/et-si-en-tunisie-la-democratie-passait-par-l-islam_1593940_3232.html

The Tunisian people have impressed the whole world again by their dignity and determination. Tunisians have set an example of what a smooth, peaceful and democratic transition might be in the region and reminded us why the future is so bright for this country and its people.

Gordon Gray, United States Ambassador to Tunisia

http://www.businessnews.com.tn/Editorial-dÂ’opinion-par-lÂ’Ambassadeur-des-Etats-Unis,-Gordon-Gray,526,27322,3

'There will be no rupture but rather continuity because we came to power through democracy, not with tanks,' said Abdelhamid Jlazzi Tuesday evening, campaign manager at the headquarters of the party.

He added that Ennahda would cooperate with the business communities to improve social and economic conditions: 'We suffered from dictatorship and repression, now we are given a historic opportunity to enjoy the taste of freedom and democracy.'

http://www.lesechos.fr/investisseurs/actualites-boursieres/reuters_00392715-les-islamistes-tunisiens-veulent-rassurer-les-milieux-d-affaires-239822.php

«In nine months, little Tunisia has built an exemplary electoral process thanks to a High Authority of which integrity could be a model for many Western democracies. It even managed to rebuild the electoral roll previously infected by the Ben Ali regime. It legalized the political parties which were banned under the dictatorship, freed political prisoners, learned to play politics and instituted dialogue ».

«What threatens Tunisia is not religious extremism. Tunisia is a country that was historically open and peaceful. One of the few countries in the world that has never declared war on its neighbors and has never killed its minorities. After 2000 years of pacifism Tunisia will not transform by magic, into a warlike and intolerant population. 50 years after independence, Tunisia is just trying to find its Arab and Muslim identity. And that's a good thing.'

 Bruno Walter French Investor

http://www.kapitalis.com/fokus/62-national/6599-a-mes-amis-francais-saluons-la-victoire-de-la-democratie-en-tunisie.html

“In a real victory for democracy, Tunisia appears to be set not for a period of Islamist domination but for a healthy bout of barter and compromise between newly legitimized political forces. Rather than serving as a warning of the dangers of popular empowerment when political Islam dominates discourse across the Arab world, Tunisia’s elections make a compelling argument for letting the people choose”.

“Under Tunisia’s so-far-smooth plan for its transition to full democracy, the new assembly is charged with drafting a constitution and appointing a government, including a prime minister and president. Nahda’s leaders have hastened to insist they are open to forming a coalition with any party—and have implied that they would not overturn Tunisia’s liberal laws on alcohol and women’s clothing”.

http://www.economist.com/node/21534808?fsrc=rss%7Cmea