JEDDAH: Saudi Arabia’s minister of commerce and investment has affirmed that the deeply-rooted relations with Tunisia are witnessing a remarkable development, during the opening of the Saudi-Tunisian Economic Forum in Jeddah on Sunday. Minister Majid bin Abdullah Al-Qasabi stressed that both countries look forward to promoting trade and investment cooperation to higher levels, noting that the volume of trade exchange in 2018 amounted to $ 309 million, marking a 16% increase over the previous year. This came during the opening of the Saudi-Tunisian Economic Forum, which was hosted by the Jeddah Chamber today, in the presence of Tunisian Minister of Commerce Dr. Omar Behi and a number of Saudi and Tunisian officials. Al-Qasabi praised the cooperation spirit at the Saudi-Tunisian forum and meeting leaders of the business sector from both sides in a bid to promote bilateral relations between brotherly countries. He said the forum looks forward to offer suggestions and solutions for challenges facing entry of goods, services and investments between the two countries. The forum will seek solutions to overcome them through relevant government bodies. Al-Qasabi pointed that the Kingdom attaches great importance to developing trade and investment relations and strengthen cooperation between the private sector in both countries. A Saudi-Tunisian committee will hold a platform next week to receive suggestions for the private sector to solve and overcome any drawbacks. The minister praised the agreement reached during the previous Saudi-Tunisian forum meeting to draw a road map aimed at increasing the volume of trade exchange and investments between the two countries, especially in the fields of medicine, food, phosphate and stone sections. On his part, the Tunisian Minister of Trade and Industry said the forum is attended by 25 Tunisian companies and companies from different sectors such as food, agricultural products, textiles, clothing, pharmaceuticals, packaging, household appliances, public works, building materials and services. Tunisian Minister Dr. Omar Behi said Saudi Arabia is Tunisia’s first trading partner in the Gulf region. He said his government grants broad concessions to Saudi business owners in various sectors. He expressed his hope to increase cooperation mechanisms and enhance investment opportunities and partnerships with the Kingdom.