What efforts has the Tunisian government put in for promoting science and technology?
We have proposed to allot one per cent of our total GDP for R&D in science and technology. The present GDP is about $32 billion with a growth rate of five per cent. There are 12 pharmaceutical companies presently operating in our country, which are mainly French and American. They are the main suppliers of 16 most important medicines in the Tunisian market. Opportunities exist in human-use drugs, vaccines and generic drugs, which Indian companies can tap. Bulk drugs, vaccines, cancer drugs and biotech formulations are the immediate requirements for human healthcare. Complete exemption from corporate tax for 10 years is one amongst them. Further, products manufactured in Tunisia that have a value addition of upto 40 per cent can have easy access to the EU. Why India? Is it because of its cost-competitiveness? We want to widen the range of portfolio of drugs availability. India has been very friendly with African countries for a long time. Though we are able to satisfy 50 per cent of our
