Will Tunis become the center of technological entrepreneurship?

For most people, Tunisia is associated only with beach rest and excursions to the ruins of ancient Carthage. But today this North African country is working hard to develop the start-up industry .

The basis of the Tunisian economy for many years was tourism and agriculture. However, since recently, the country's authorities have become seriously interested in the development of the technological business. For the past two years, Tunisian officials have been actively consulting with entrepreneurs, investors and public figures. The result of the discussion was the adoption of a unique for Africa legislative act - a special law on start-ups, says Quartz.

In it, Tunisian lawmakers tried to formulate criteria by which an enterprise can be called a start-up. In total, 5 points were obtained: the company should not be older than 8 years; In it should work no more than 100 people; founders, angel investors and hedge funds should own more than two thirds of its shares; it must work on an innovative (based on modern technologies) business model; and, finally, its activities should contribute to economic growth.

Startups that meet these five criteria will be able to get really significant benefits. In particular, the law promises them assistance in attracting financing and obtaining international patents, and also exempts from paying income tax. In some cases, the founders of companies can even count on a salary that will be paid at the expense of the state budget.

After a wave of unrest and revolutions swept through many Arab countries (including Tunisia) in 2011, the Tunisian economy is going through hard times. Making a bet on the development of start-ups, the authorities of the country hope to cope with poverty and high unemployment. But one law is not enough for this.

According to the American non-governmental organization Freedom House, Tunisia belongs to "partially free" countries, whereas for business development (especially, focused on digital technologies), a greater level of freedom is needed.

In addition, Tunisian entrepreneurs face the same problems as their colleagues from other African countries: bureaucratic red tape, a complex tax system and difficulties in financing. Even in Nigeria, the leading economy of the continent, there are archaic laws - for example, in this country is forbidden crowedfading, and it is extremely difficult to use drones.

With regard to the development of the start-up industry, Tunisia is still very far from South Africa, Nigeria, Kenya and Egypt. But if the country's authorities do not limit themselves to adopting one law and can create a favorable business atmosphere, Tunisia will have all chances to get close to the African leaders of the start-up industry.