Tunisia plans to increase investment in mining sector in 2019

TUNIS, Nov. 20 (Xinhua) -- Tunisia plans to increase investment in its mining sector and raise its revenues by 10 percent in 2019, local media reported Tuesday.

According to the 2019 economic budget document released by the media, Tunisian government intends to mobilize investment of 180 million dinars (about 62 million U.S. dollars) for the mining sector.

The phosphate sector alone is expected to get investment of around 140 million dinars in 2019.

In 2010, Tunisia was among the top five countries in the world in the mining industry, especially in phosphate production.

Since then, the Tunisian industry has gradually lost its advantages in face of fierce competition from some countries including Morocco, Saudi Arabia and Brazil.