Oleg Markov, managing director at Russian Machines, said GAZ was negotiating with a private Tunisian company, and that the two parties have already signed a protocol of intent.
"It is too early to discuss dates and volumes of the potential project, while negotiations are still underway," Markov said. "We are planning to assemble GAZelle family cars in Tunisia."
Markov said Tunisia was a new region for the Russian carmaker, which has already established assembly lines in Lithuania and Egypt, and plans to launch GAZ car production in Iran by late 2007.
GAZ plans to export some 55,000 vehicles, against last year's 42,000 cars, worth 8.2 billion rubles ($316.6 million). The bulk of the company's exports - 38,909 vehicles - went to CIS countries in 2006.
The carmaker exports to 35 countries, and plans to establish its presence in 70 markets in the next five years.
GAZ Group was established in 2005 on the basis of Gorky Automobile Plant. The Group has 18 subsidiaries in 10 Russian regions and some 130,000 employees. Last year the company's sales totaled $4.5 billion.
