According to eningbo, Tunisia in 2012 was a North African country located on the Mediterranean Sea. It is bordered by Algeria to the west and Libya to the south and has a total land area of 163,610 km2 with a population of around 11 million people. The official language is Arabic but French is also widely spoken. The capital city is Tunis which is home to around 1.2 million people. Tunisia has a long history stretching back to the 8th century BC when it was first colonized by Phoenicians before being later conquered by the Romans and then Arabs in the 7th century AD. It achieved independence from France in 1956 and today is a democratic republic with an elected president as head of state. The economy of Tunisia is largely driven by its tourism industry which accounts for around 14% of GDP while manufacturing, agriculture and mining are also important sectors. Major exports include textiles, chemicals, phosphates and petroleum products which are exported to countries such as France, Italy and Germany. Despite its strong economic performance there are still areas where poverty remains an issue with some estimates suggesting that around 20% of the population lives below the poverty line. The government has made efforts to reduce poverty through initiatives such as job creation schemes but more needs to be done to ensure that all members of society benefit from economic growth and development. Tunisia in 2015 was a country of great potential and opportunity. After the Jasmine Revolution of 2011, Tunisia had become a beacon of hope for the Middle East as it embraced democracy and rejected authoritarian rule. The new government was eager to open up Tunisia’s economy to foreign investment, which created an influx of international businesses into the country. At the same time, Tunisia was also working hard to improve its education system, healthcare system, and infrastructure in order to create a more prosperous future for its citizens. Unemployment rates were still high but had decreased significantly since 2011 and wages were slowly increasing. The Tunisian people had hope that their new government could continue to bring about positive change in their country. The tourism industry was also on the rise in 2015 with many visitors from Europe and North Africa flocking to Tunisia’s beautiful beaches, historical sites and vibrant culture. Tourists could explore ancient ruins like Carthage or take trips through the Sahara Desert on camelback. Despite some security concerns due to terrorist activity in the region, visitors could still find plenty of places to explore safely in Tunisia. The Tunisian people welcomed visitors with open arms and many entrepreneurs opened up businesses catering specifically to tourists such as hotels, restaurants and souvenir shops. Check computerannals for Tunisia in 2003.