TUNISIA TO INCREASE TRADE WITH RI: NEW ENVOY

    Jakarta, Jan 16/2003 (ANTARA) New Tunisian Ambassador to Indonesia Mohamed Mouldi Kefi has expressed his intention to increase trade volume between Indonesia and Tunisia.
        "No matter in whose favor the trade balance, we need to increase the volume of trade. We export among others phosphate and dates to Indonesia. We hope that we can also export our olive, wine and fruits to Indonesia," Ambassador Kefi told the press at his residence here Thursday.

        Kefi presented to President Megawati Soekarnoputri the Letter of Credentials accrediting him as new Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Tunisia to Indonesia, Thursday morning.
        He also intended to encourage more Indonesian businessmen to invest in Tunisia and Tunisian businessmen to invest in Indonesia.
        "We would like also to further cooperate in other fields such as culture, education, social and women. We have received Indonesian students, and so we hope to receive Indonesian educators and rectors in the future," he said.
        Born in Kef, Tunisia, in 1946, Mohamed Mouldi Kefi has been involved in diplomacy and international relations for over three decades. He got his Master of Philosophy from the University of Strasbourg, France, in 1972.
        His latest positions included director general of Asia and America (2000), ambassador to Russia and CIS countries (1996-1999), to Nigeria, Ghana, Liberia and Sierra Leone (1990-1994), and Chief of Staff of the Minister of Foreign Affairs (1994-1996).
        Kefi headed a Tunisian delegation to Indonesia during a Joint Commission Meeting in Jakarta in July 2001. (T/f01/b/RI1/b/b003)