Most Information Society developments in Tunisia during the course of the ESIS II project have been on setting national strategies and action plans on ICT infrastructure development, internet usage, expanding the usage of Internet in the education sector and on developing electronic commerce. Additionally, awareness and information activities have centered around these issues and focus on the Internet as tool for education and training, and on electronic commerce for businesses.

The development of communications and information infrastructure in Tunisia has been seen at the highest political level as a current main priority. The extension of the national telecommunication networks as well as the completion of projects regarding the modernization of these networks are among the top decisions that have been taken by the President of the Tunisian Republic, Mr. Zine El Abidine Ben Ali. The modernization of these systems has to be implemented in a way that will correspond to the needs of the country, to the rapid changes globally, and with the strengthening of enterprise competition. In a late-November 1999 meeting between the Chief of the State and the Minister of Communications – Mr. Ahmed Friaa, the Minister presented the preparations under way according to the presidential decisions.

The Minister of Commmunications has underlined the concern of Tunisia to be in the forefront of the information technologies developments. The objective is to guarantee the presence of Tunisia in the international scene, support the competitiveness and protect the national identity. This strategy is based on the modernization of the infrastructure in the sector so that it will contribute to the dynamic development of the economy; further development of the investment rate and it will contribute to a more favorable business environment for foreign investments in Tunisia. This strategy is based equally on the integration of modern technologies and the adoption of worldwide used «state of the art» technologies.

In early December 1999, the Tunis National School of Engineers Alumni Association organized a round table on "telecommunications, vehicle for the acceleration of economic and social development". This action, presided the Minister of Communications, gave an opportunity for members of the Association to be informed about the realizations of this crucial sector as well as its essential role in the development the socio-economic life of the country. Infrastructure development, human resources development and regulation of the telecommunications sector, awareness and the introduction to the culture of information, are the three major axes on which the pace of Tunisia on route to the evolution is based on. The repercussions of the rapid telecommunication technology changes to the Tunisian society as a whole, was stressed and the most important steps were presented.

The Tunisian Government has launched an initiative aiming at expanding the usage of the Internet within the education sector nation-wide, encompassing the distance education framework. The Minister of Higher Education has been at the forefront of this initiative by providing teachers, students and Internet surfers with communication tools in order to improve trade within the community and to encourage the usage of these current educational tools. At present, computer centers have been established in remote regions in order to introduce IT to children. Furthermore, the Internet is being introduced to primary, secondary and universities. It has allowed for the improvement of the communications infrastructure within the education sector.

At the end of 1999, beginning of 2000 there have been actions by the government to develop distance education. At a conference held by the Democratic Constitutional Assembly Party, held in Bizerte on February 29 2000, the President spoke of his determination to modernize teaching methods and facilitate students in remote areas through the aid of distance education and the creation of university poles in all regions. A National Commission on Distance Education was formed at the end of 1999 under the auspice of the Minister of Communications. The National Commission on Distance Education (Internet and Education) held a meeting on April 13, 2000 to discuss the details of a pilot project on distance education being instigated by this Commission. All participants of the project presented a technical proposal at this meeting. These participants include ISETCOM, ATI, IRSIT, CERT, SUPCOM, SOTETEL, ONP and Tunisie Telecom, each being allocated specific tasks from preparing a technical study and installing a model to collecting course contents and evaluating the financial aspects.

The government of Tunisia has also given emphasis to the field of electronic commerce. The National Electronic Commerce Committee of Tunisia (CNCE), set up in November 1997, was responsible to develop the trade through the Internet. In early May 1999, a virtual shop was launched that sells hardware and software to firms and private individuals. The aforementioned cybershop is the result of a pilot project planned by CNCE. In mid-May the President of the Tunisian Republic presided over a cabinet meeting in order to review the National Committee's achievements. The government also laid out the legal bases for electronic commerce. Tunisia was one of the first 10 countries to be endowed with a judicial framework organizing electronic commerce. The Bill on E-Commerce was a three year long study, conducted by the National Commission for Electronic Commerce, under the auspice of the Minister of Communication, entailing the study of electronic commerce and hence the drafting up of the legal structure for the submission to parliament. On July 27,2000 a Bill on E-Commerce was passed by parliament. The Bill on E-Commerce includes issues such as the transfer of electronic documents and signatures, allowing for further development of business and trade opportunities in Tunisia. Following this important milestone on August 29, 2000 a new national project on electronic currency was launched, the "e-Dinar".

The main programmes/projects that have taken place or are currently running in Tunisia over the duration of the ESIS II project are in distance-training, tele-working, a tele-medicine, a national electronic commerce project, and the creation of a Technological Park. These important IS developments are described below.

Tunisia's medical sector is being enriched through a collaboration between Tunisia and Italy in the field of telemedicine. One of the first objectives of this collaboration is the connection of Habib - Thameur hospital to Shared network, enabling a remote cooperation with other sanitary establishments. The Shared network, supported by Italian and other European agencies, was created for the promotion of telemedicine and is currently comprised of fifteen interconnected hospitals

In 1997, the President of Tunisia launched a project concerning the creation of a Technological Park of Telecommunications in Tunis. During the summer of 1999 this project started to materialize. The park is situated at the region of Zone Raoued, in Tunis. Business companies and research institutes in the area of software development, informatics and communications have settled in this region. The site comprises also banks, restaurants, post office, conference and teleconference rooms. Additional institutes and companies will move. The objective of this project is to create an area oriented towards "products and services", adapted to contemporary needs of the information technology age, able to create an active collaboration between research and industry in the fast growing field of ICT, assisting therefore Tunisia to integrate the modern information society. The telecommunication infrastructure of the whole park will is up to date, providing to its users all modern facilities. In February 2000, the Minister of Communication, Mr Ahmed Friaa, along with the Secretary of State for Research and Technology, Mr Abdekarim Zbidi, visited the Technological Park. Mr Friaa inspected several of the Institutions residing within the Park, which falls under the Ministry of Communications, and expressed his aims in inviting other Ministries in order to inspire them in offering their services to aid Research in Tunisia.

In late-October 1999, a co-operation agreement was signed among the Superior Institute of Tourism, the Hostelry of Sidi Dhrif and the Foundation Sophia Antipolis (Nice). This agreement of co-operation concerns the Mediterranean project of a virtual school regarding professions in the Mediterranean Sea and especially distance-training for people working in the sector of tourism. This project regroups France, Morocco and Tunisia and embodies the aforementioned countries in the framework of the EUMEDIS program and that of the French-speaking inforoutes.

The Minister of Communications, has set up a project where the consolidation of communication networks and the Post are to be realized. The project intends to strengthen the electronic data transmission, and to create tele-working centers so citizens can utilize this new form of work mode. Mr Friaa, in late April 2000, informed the President of the purpose and structure encompassing the project.

On August 29, 2000 a new project on electronic currency was launched, the "e-Dinar". The Tunisian government as an easier method of payment has instigated this new currency for university students paying their tuition fees. This new concept combines the services of the Internet and commerce, thereby providing students with easier and safer transaction modes of payment. Students are able purchase the e-Dinar from the Post Office. ATI (the Tunisian Internet Agency) has laid the foundation and software making the e-currency a reality. ATI ensures that the transactions are secure through the induction of the program "e-Tijara".

The government of Tunisia has undertaken innovative initiatives for the promotion of the Internet. A one-month raising awareness campaign took place regarding the profits that could be realized by Tunisian enterprises from Internet usage and focusing especially on their higher sensitivity about the Net. The Minister of Communications, kicked-off of this action which is named "Caravanes de l'Internet 99" on Sunday the 9^th of September. The campaign, that continued until 5 October 1999, started with two departure caravans, one to Tataouine (South) and the other to the Kef (North-west), where an information/awareness day was organized with a program of conferences on Internet and electronic commerce, as well as workshops on the same issues. Under the framework of this campaign an awareness week at a national level was organized in early November. The first national week of Internet was a major action, marked of several IS events. The kick-off event was to organize sensitivity awareness in various regions of the country, coordinated by the ministry of Communications, IS service suppliers and PUBLINET responsible. During this week, besides the seminars on Internet in all regions of the country, a two-day international conference on Internet and electronic commerce took place at the exhibitions Park of the Kram, where expert representatives from public/private enterprises participated. It was underlined, by the Minister of Communications, the concern of Tunisia to be at the forefront of IT, with the ultimate goal of guaranteeing the country's presence in the international scene while safeguarding the national identity. In the same period and at the same venue, a supporting exhibition about IT, Internet services and e-commerce was held. For the first time in Tunisia, a contest named "Oscar Web" was organized, aiming at the development of web sites. While web page elaboration was emphasized, creativity was sucessfully combined with the exploration of the IS.

The "7^th of November" Internet Bus is a project instigated by the Ministry of Transport this year, launching the President’s national strategy to guarantee universal access to the Internet for young people in rural areas and remote regions of Tunisia. The Tunisian Company of Automobile Industry (STIA) assembled the Bus, along with thirteen microcomputers, a proxy server, a shared printer, a screen and a video-projector. Access to the Internet is made possible through a VSAT station, which is linked to a vehicle that accompanies the bus. The bus makes scheduled stops in various parts of the country, allowing the youth the possibility of a hands-on Internet experience.

The Tunisian government has placed a great emphasis on Internet usage and Electronic commerce. In this context, most seminars/workshops/conferences that have played a major role in the process of IS development in Tunisia have focused on the topics of Internet, E-Commerce, and Security issues. A couple of IT events have also taken place.

The main seminars that were held in Tunisia on E-commerce and the Internet, over the duration of the ESIS II project were:

• An E-Commerce Seminar organised by the Chiefs of Arab Enterprises.
• A seminar on " EDI and the electronic commerce: stakes and interests for the Tunisian economy " organized under the aegis of the Ministry of Commerce and the Ministry of Communications, 3S2I (Computer Engineering).
• A debate on electronic commerce was organized by ENA (National Administration School) Alumni Association, under the presidency of Mr. Ahmed Friaa, Minister of Communications, and in the presence of Mr. Taoufik Baccar, Minister of Finances and President of the association and Mr. Mohamed Ben Ahmed, Secretary of State for scientific research and technology.
• A seminar titled "All In One Network" was organized by SUPTELEOM, in collaboration with the Ministry of Communication and the Ministry of Commerce. The issues discussed were on the Internet and E-commerce and security issues regarding VoIP, mobile and 3^rd Generation, WAP, and Access and Fibre-optic networks.
• A seminar on the topic "Internet and E-commerce" was organized by the COI (Couseil de l'Ordre des Ingenieurs) and the National School of Engineers of Monastir.
• A seminar on "The Financial Market in the Internet Era" was held and organized by the Financial Market Council.
• Two conferences titled "Internet and Electronic Commerce" were organized by ATI.

Forums/Conferences that focused on Information Technology were the following:

• A National Forum on " Computer Security" was organized by The Secretary of State for Informatics. Those participating were experts from the area of Information Technology and almost 400 top managers from private and public companies.
• A Tunisian-Canadian Information Technologies Week was held which focused on the achievements of a two year co-operation between Canadian and Tunisian companies on various projects within the service and computer engineering framework. The Secretary of State for Information Technology, Mr Montassar Ouaili, headed the closing ceremony during which 14 partnership agreements were signed between Tunisian and Canadian companies
• A two-day forum regarding Tunisian Scientific Competences was organized by the Minister of Social Affairs, Mr Chedli Neffati. The Minister of Higher Education, Mr Sadok Chaabane informed the participants of a site for the exchange of information called "Electronic Academy".
• A conference on "Economic Challenges of New Technologies" was organized by the Minister of Communication.
• A seminar dealing with issues on digital commerce was organized by the weekly magazine "Réalités".

Important exhibitions that took place in Tunisia, over the course of the ESIS II project were:

• SIB held annually is one of the greatest informatics events in the country. SIB welcomes several exhibitors and presents several novelties of the IS world, such as: software of management from points of sale, software in the judicial area, educational games (Arab and French) on CD Rom, multimedia accessories, videoconference, tele-medecine and tele-working applications.
• "Technology 2000" hosted at the Tunis World Trade Centre was organized by both the National Polytechnic School and Global Technology Network, bringing together 50 international exhibitors.
• The 8^th Annual International Communications Fair "Tunisia Telecom 2000" was held between 22 and 25 November at the International "CIFCO" Exhibition Centre, in Tunis. More than 70 exhibitors attended, 26 of whom were from foreign organisations. The exhibition was organized by the General Company for Organization of Fairs (SOGEFOIRES International).