The balance of opinion of business leaders on the development of investment in the manufacturing sector declined to 9% in the second half of 2023, from 13% in the first half of 2023, according to the results of a survey of private business leaders in the first half of 2023 and forecasts for the second half. The survey, published by the National Statistics Institute (INS) on Wednesday, was conducted in May 2023 among a sample of 1,000 companies in the manufacturing sector. The balance of opinion is defined as “the difference between the proportion of those expressing a positive opinion and the proportion expressing a negative opinion”, with more optimists than pessimists. The balance of opinion thus rises from 10% in the second half of 2022 to 22% in the first half of 2023. The balance of opinion among business leaders expecting an improvement in investments in the chemical industry sector reached 20% in the first half of 2023, compared to 16% in the second half of 2022. Conversely, the balance of opinion among business leaders in the miscellaneous industries sector fell (-3%) in the first half of 2023.The balance of opinion in the agro-food, agricultural, mechanical and electrical industries sector remained stable. With regard to the development of investments in the second half of 2023, the balance of opinion of business leaders operating in the building materials, ceramics and glass industries sector recorded a decline compared to the first half of 2023, falling from 31% to 5%. The balance of opinion was also negative for the chemical, mechanical and electrical industries sector. On the other hand, 18% of business leaders in other sectors, such as clothing, textiles and leather, remain optimistic about investment in the second half of 2023.
Source: EN – Agence Tunis Afrique Presse