Friedensnobelpreisträger Abassi im Haus der Deutschen Wirtschaft © BDI

A meeting with Tunisian Nobel Peace Prize laureate Houcine Abassi

“The German tariff partnership is a model that we would like to adopt in Tunisia on our path to a stable democracy and a flourishing economy. We are not looking to the past; we want reconciliation and are willing to make compromises for the good of the country’s future,” said Houcine Abassi, winner of the 2015 Nobel Peace Prize, at an event with representatives from the BDI, BDA and DIHK held in November at the Haus der Deutschen Wirtschaft.

In his welcome address, Matthias Wachter, Head of the BDI Security and Raw Materials Department, stressed that the positive developments in Tunisia are setting a good example, not only for the Arab world but worldwide. He said that German business and industry is keen to engage in close dialogue with Tunisia in order to help stabilise the country.

Abassi, who also won the German Africa Foundation’s Africa Prize in 2015, praised the achievements of the Tunisian population since the revolution. In a short space of time, he said, the country had succeeded in moving from an authoritarian dictatorship, through a revolution and a period of civil unrest, to a democratic constitution and an elected government. Abassi, together with three other civil society representatives, was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for the constructive role he played in this process as the secretary general of the country’s largest trade union. He emphasised that what Tunisia needs now is good economic growth and support in overcoming security problems

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