Foreign direct investment in Tunisia fell by 1.3 percent in the first half of 2013, official data showed on Saturday, a likely reflection of political strife in the north African state.

 

Foreign investments fell to 939 million Tunisian dinars ($569.95 million) from 951.1 million dinars in the same period of 2012, the Foreign Investment Promotion Agency (FIPA) said.

 

Tunisia, the birthplace of the "Arab spring" protests, is in renewed political turmoil after the assassination of Mohamed Brahmi, a secular opposition figure, last month.

 

Foreign investment was down 13.9 percent on the same period in 2010, before a 2011 uprising toppled autocratic leader Zine el-Abidine Ben Ali.

 

The service sector experienced the largest decline in investment - down 21 percent on last year - followed by the industrial sector - down 5 percent - and energy - down 4.3 percent.

 

Unemployment fell in the second quarter of 2013 to 15.9 percent from 16.5 percent in the quarter, the National Institute of Statistics said this week. - Reuters