Insurance

Although insurance penetration levels in Tunisia are low by international standards, overall premiums are growing steadily and the life segment is expanding rapidly, as are new niches such as takaful (Islamic insurance) and micro-insurance. The industry regulator is also working on a number of reforms to bolster sector development, including changes in the rules on pricing mandatory third-party liability vehicle insurance, which is among the largest product lines sold in the country but is also loss-making. While the life market has been growing quickly in recent years, low overall penetration rates present insurance firms with wide-ranging opportunities. As the market expands, reforms should help to boost profitability from vehicle insurance, allowing firms to invest in less developed areas of the industry. This chapter contains an interview with Lassâad Zarrouk, CEO, STAR Assurances.