TUNIS, July 2 -- The 3rd Tunisia-Africa Business Meetings kicked off on Tuesday in Tunisia's capital city of Tunis, as Tunisia aims to increase its exports to sub-Saharan Africa.

The two-day event is part of Tunisia's efforts to increase exports to sub-Saharan Africa, and promote the Tunisian know-how in several areas, particularly in the food, electrical, and pharmaceutical sectors, reported the Tunis Afrique Presse (TAP).

The trade between Tunisia and sub-Saharan African countries rose to 650 million U.S. dollars last year, while Tunisia's exports to these countries exceeded 490 million dollars, representing 3.5 percent of Tunisia's national exports.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, Tunisian Trade and Export Development Minister KalthoumBen Rejab reaffirmed Tunisia's commitment to consolidate its political and economic relations with all countries on the African continent, whether at the bilateral level or within the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa agreement, the Free Trade Agreement between African countries, and the mechanisms of the African Union.

Ben Rejab noted that the intra-African trade increased by 3.2 percent to 192.2 billion U.S. dollars during the previous financial year.

  - Xinhua