Day: June 10, 2024

Tunis: A working meeting was held on Monday in Tunis between Minister of the Economy and Planning, Feryel Ouerghi, and a high-level delegation from the African Development Bank (AfDB) currently visiting Tunisia.

During this meeting, Minister Ouerghi reviewed the main reforms undertaken by the Tunisian government in order to accelerate growth, maintain financial balance and improve social conditions, according to a press release from the ministry.

The reforms focus mainly on improving the business and investment climate, implementing programmes to reform and develop the management of public enterprises, expanding digitalisation and reforming the administration to improve its performance.

The Minister also outlined the key development orientations for the next decade, highlighting such areas as the green economy, renewable energy, infrastructure, human and social development, regional development, digitalisation, and addressing the impacts of climate change and food security.

She said Tunisia looked forward
to the AfDB’s continued support for these priority reforms and policies, which are in line with the Bank’s strategy for the next ten years.

The head of the AfDB delegation affirmed that this visit was part of the regular review of the progress of projects financed by the Bank, while gaining an in-depth understanding of Tunisia’s reform programmes and development objectives for the coming period.

She reiterated the AfDB’s commitment to strengthening its cooperation with Tunisia, one of its key partners.

The delegation will conduct field visits to inspect ongoing projects in the governorates of Kairouan, Zaghouan and Bizerte, with a particular focus on the agricultural sector, infrastructure and some private pilot projects financed by the AfDB under the “Souk At-tanmia” initiative.

Source: Agence Tunis Afrique Presse

Tunis: A small cabinet meeting decided, Monday, to maintain the grain reception prices and grant an exceptional incentive subsidy for the 2024 grain harvest.

Chaired by Prime Minister, Ahmed Hachani, the meeting made it possible to adopt a programme for the regulation of potato stocks.

The meeting was attended by Interior Minister Khaled Nouri, Finance Minister Sihem Nemsia, Minister of Commerce Kalthoum Ben Rejeb and Minister of Agriculture, Water Resources and fisheries Abdelmonem Belati

Concerning the 2024 incentive subsidy in the field of grains, it will be paid for the quantity of grains granted to collectors and distributed between the base price and the express delivery premium, while keeping the same calibration conditions, reads a press release of the Prime Ministry.

As for the buffer stock of potatoes, the goal is to protect producers against price deterioration, maintain the balance of the potato system, reduce imported quantities and preserve consumers’ purchasing power.

The cabinet meeting a
lso shed light on the success of the harvest and the grain collection season, the adjustment programme for ware potatoes and preparations for the 2024-2025 agricultural season.

Hachani recalled that agriculture, the backbone of food security, is closely linked to the sovereignty of the State, stressing the need to mobilize favorable conditions, particularly in terms of logistics so as to ensure a successful grain season.

He emphasized the need to launch a programme aimed at establishing a buffer stock and promoting preparation for the next agricultural season.

Source: Agence Tunis Afrique Presse

Tunis: A small cabinet meeting decided, Monday, to maintain the grain reception prices and grant an exceptional incentive subsidy for the 2024 grain harvest.

Chaired by Prime Minister, Ahmed Hachani, the meeting made it possible to adopt a programme for the regulation of potato stocks.

The meeting was attended by Interior Minister Khaled Nouri, Finance Minister Sihem Nemsia, Minister of Commerce Kalthoum Ben Rejeb and Minister of Agriculture, Water Resources and fisheries Abdelmonem Belati

Concerning the 2024 incentive subsidy in the field of grains, it will be paid for the quantity of grains granted to collectors and distributed between the base price and the express delivery premium, while keeping the same calibration conditions, reads a press release of the Prime Ministry.

As for the buffer stock of potatoes, the goal is to protect producers against price deterioration, maintain the balance of the potato system, reduce imported quantities and preserve consumers’ purchasing power.

The cabinet meeting a
lso shed light on the success of the harvest and the grain collection season, the adjustment programme for ware potatoes and preparations for the 2024-2025 agricultural season.

Hachani recalled that agriculture, the backbone of food security, is closely linked to the sovereignty of the State, stressing the need to mobilize favorable conditions, particularly in terms of logistics so as to ensure a successful grain season.

He emphasized the need to launch a programme aimed at establishing a buffer stock and promoting preparation for the next agricultural season.

Source: Agence Tunis Afrique Presse

Tunis: Prime Minister Ahmed Hachani chaired on Monday a small Cabinet meeting at the Government Palace in Kasbah to review the activities of the National Company of Cellulose and Esparto Paper (SNCPA).

Hachani took the opportunity to stress the need to continue with the measures currently being taken to support the company’s activities in order to ensure its long-term survival and help it meet its commitments. These include the production of paper need to print school books for the next school year 2024-2025.

The Cabinet meeting was attended by Minister of Finance, Sihem Boughdiri Nemsia, Minister of Economy and Planning, Feryel Ouerghi, Minister of Industry, Mines and Energy, Fatma Thabet Chiboub, Minister of Trade and Export Development, Kalthoum Ben Rejeb and CEO of the SNCPA, Samia Briki.

Source: Agence Tunis Afrique Presse

Tunis: Prime Minister Ahmed Hachani chaired on Monday a small Cabinet meeting at the Government Palace in Kasbah to review the activities of the National Company of Cellulose and Esparto Paper (SNCPA).

Hachani took the opportunity to stress the need to continue with the measures currently being taken to support the company’s activities in order to ensure its long-term survival and help it meet its commitments. These include the production of paper need to print school books for the next school year 2024-2025.

The Cabinet meeting was attended by Minister of Finance, Sihem Boughdiri Nemsia, Minister of Economy and Planning, Feryel Ouerghi, Minister of Industry, Mines and Energy, Fatma Thabet Chiboub, Minister of Trade and Export Development, Kalthoum Ben Rejeb and CEO of the SNCPA, Samia Briki.

Source: Agence Tunis Afrique Presse

Tunis: Members of the Assembly of People’s Representatives (ARP) discussed two draft laws during a parliamentary day on Monday.

The first concerns the approval of the agreement on the benefits of operating the Ashtart permit and the second concerns the Rahmoura oil field.

These two bills are part of the process of reviewing the benefits that have expired and were approved at a ministerial meeting on May 17, 2022.

The contract for the Ashtart field (Gulf of Gabès) was signed in October 2023 between the Tunisian State and the Tunisian Petroleum Activities Company (ETAP), acting as contractor, on the one hand, and the Tunisian oil and gas company PERENCO Tunisia, on the other, with each party holding 50%.

The exploitation of Ashtart takes place within the framework of the hydrocarbon exploration permit in the Gulf of Gabes, granted by decision of the Minister of National Economy on June 30, 1973, valid for 50 years and expiring on December 31, 2023.

Ashtart is a major oil field in Tunisia with current daily
production of 4,700 barrels and estimated reserves of nearly 64 million barrels of oil.

Continued production from the Ashtart field is economically significant with an estimated value of $175 million based on an oil price of approximately $60 per barrel, increasing to $213 million if the price of a barrel of oil reaches $70.

The operating concessions relating to Rahmoura (Sfax) were granted by decision of the Minister of the National Economy on December 30, 1992 for a period of 30 years, expiring on January 14, 2023.

The Rahmoura oil field contract was signed on December 11, 2023 between the Tunisian State on the one hand and ETAP (51%) and Panoro TBS Production Lmtd (49%) on the other.

Daily production from the Rahmoura well is estimated at 380 barrels of oil. Total production from the well is expected to reach 7.4 million barrels of oil by the end of 2021, with an estimated 1.1 million barrels of oil in place.

ETAP, in partnership with Panoro, has submitted an application to secure benefits for a 16-ye
ar new operation.

The meeting heard a report prepared by members of the ARP’s Industry, Trade and Natural Resources Committee following a visit to the Ashtart and Rahmoura wells in April last year.

The MPs highlighted the deplorable condition of the two wells and the lack of maintenance, as well as the dilapidated state of the machinery and a number of technical and financial problems.

Source: Agence Tunis Afrique Presse

Tunis: Members of the Assembly of People’s Representatives (ARP) discussed two draft laws during a parliamentary day on Monday.

The first concerns the approval of the agreement on the benefits of operating the Ashtart permit and the second concerns the Rahmoura oil field.

These two bills are part of the process of reviewing the benefits that have expired and were approved at a ministerial meeting on May 17, 2022.

The contract for the Ashtart field (Gulf of Gabès) was signed in October 2023 between the Tunisian State and the Tunisian Petroleum Activities Company (ETAP), acting as contractor, on the one hand, and the Tunisian oil and gas company PERENCO Tunisia, on the other, with each party holding 50%.

The exploitation of Ashtart takes place within the framework of the hydrocarbon exploration permit in the Gulf of Gabes, granted by decision of the Minister of National Economy on June 30, 1973, valid for 50 years and expiring on December 31, 2023.

Ashtart is a major oil field in Tunisia with current daily
production of 4,700 barrels and estimated reserves of nearly 64 million barrels of oil.

Continued production from the Ashtart field is economically significant with an estimated value of $175 million based on an oil price of approximately $60 per barrel, increasing to $213 million if the price of a barrel of oil reaches $70.

The operating concessions relating to Rahmoura (Sfax) were granted by decision of the Minister of the National Economy on December 30, 1992 for a period of 30 years, expiring on January 14, 2023.

The Rahmoura oil field contract was signed on December 11, 2023 between the Tunisian State on the one hand and ETAP (51%) and Panoro TBS Production Lmtd (49%) on the other.

Daily production from the Rahmoura well is estimated at 380 barrels of oil. Total production from the well is expected to reach 7.4 million barrels of oil by the end of 2021, with an estimated 1.1 million barrels of oil in place.

ETAP, in partnership with Panoro, has submitted an application to secure benefits for a 16-ye
ar new operation.

The meeting heard a report prepared by members of the ARP’s Industry, Trade and Natural Resources Committee following a visit to the Ashtart and Rahmoura wells in April last year.

The MPs highlighted the deplorable condition of the two wells and the lack of maintenance, as well as the dilapidated state of the machinery and a number of technical and financial problems.

Source: Agence Tunis Afrique Presse

Tunis: Minister of Public Works and Housing, Sara Zaafrani, discussed with a high-level delegation from the African Development Bank (AfDB), during a meeting held in Tunis on Monday, the future work programmes with the Bank with a view to financing new projects included in the 2025 budget.

These new projects include the construction of two economic corridors with a length of about 500 kilometres, the first linking the city of Gabes to the Bouchebka border crossing via National Road 15 and the second linking the city of Gabes to the Hazoua border crossing via National Road 16 and National Road 03.

The Bank helped to finance the study of the project, which will help to promote economic development and create new investment opportunities in these regions, according to a statement from the Ministry.

The two sides highlighted the possibility of financing the third infrastructure modernisation programme, which includes the upgrading of 92.6 km of numbered roads, the construction of a 15 km western belt road in M
edenine and the reinforcement of 192 km of numbered roads in several states of the Republic.

They also tackled pipeline projects financed in partnership with the African Development Bank (AfDB), including the Infrastructure Modernisation and Development Programmes 1 and 2, which covered several of the country’s governorates.

The AfDB has helped finance the construction and reinforcement of some 10,700 kilometres of roads, representing 50 per cent of the completed road network.

Zaafrani underlined the government’s keenness to continue working constructively with the AfDB in the coming period.

She called on the Bank to further strengthen this partnership and expand it to include new areas that will contribute to economic and social development.

The Minister presented the Tunisian Government’s current strategy and the key reforms and major development programmes for the next decade, which will be prioritised and focused on, particularly in the area of infrastructure development and modernisation, as well as
logistics and transport.

The head of the AfDB delegation explained that this visit is part of the regular on-the-spot follow-up of the progress of projects financed by the Bank, in order to identify Tunisia’s reform programmes and its development objectives for the next phase and the support required.

She underlined the Bank’s keenness to further strengthen this cooperation and continue to support Tunisia’s efforts.

The AfDB delegation includes members of the AfDB Board of Directors, Mohamed El Azizi, Regional Director for North Africa, and Malinne Blomberg, Deputy Director General for North Africa.

Source: Agence Tunis Afrique Presse

Tunis: Minister of Public Works and Housing, Sara Zaafrani, discussed with a high-level delegation from the African Development Bank (AfDB), during a meeting held in Tunis on Monday, the future work programmes with the Bank with a view to financing new projects included in the 2025 budget.

These new projects include the construction of two economic corridors with a length of about 500 kilometres, the first linking the city of Gabes to the Bouchebka border crossing via National Road 15 and the second linking the city of Gabes to the Hazoua border crossing via National Road 16 and National Road 03.

The Bank helped to finance the study of the project, which will help to promote economic development and create new investment opportunities in these regions, according to a statement from the Ministry.

The two sides highlighted the possibility of financing the third infrastructure modernisation programme, which includes the upgrading of 92.6 km of numbered roads, the construction of a 15 km western belt road in M
edenine and the reinforcement of 192 km of numbered roads in several states of the Republic.

They also tackled pipeline projects financed in partnership with the African Development Bank (AfDB), including the Infrastructure Modernisation and Development Programmes 1 and 2, which covered several of the country’s governorates.

The AfDB has helped finance the construction and reinforcement of some 10,700 kilometres of roads, representing 50 per cent of the completed road network.

Zaafrani underlined the government’s keenness to continue working constructively with the AfDB in the coming period.

She called on the Bank to further strengthen this partnership and expand it to include new areas that will contribute to economic and social development.

The Minister presented the Tunisian Government’s current strategy and the key reforms and major development programmes for the next decade, which will be prioritised and focused on, particularly in the area of infrastructure development and modernisation, as well as
logistics and transport.

The head of the AfDB delegation explained that this visit is part of the regular on-the-spot follow-up of the progress of projects financed by the Bank, in order to identify Tunisia’s reform programmes and its development objectives for the next phase and the support required.

She underlined the Bank’s keenness to further strengthen this cooperation and continue to support Tunisia’s efforts.

The AfDB delegation includes members of the AfDB Board of Directors, Mohamed El Azizi, Regional Director for North Africa, and Malinne Blomberg, Deputy Director General for North Africa.

Source: Agence Tunis Afrique Presse

Tunis: A small cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister Ahmed Hachani on Monday decided to launch an investment week with a multi-sectoral approach in the coming weeks.

During the meeting, the Prime Minister stressed the importance of prioritising investment to create wealth and stimulate economic dynamism.

He stressed the need to streamline procedures to attract foreign investors, according to a Prime Ministry press release.

Minister of Economy and Planning Feryel Ouerghi Sebai gave a presentation on the reforms included in the national strategy to improve the business climate.

The strategy focuses on simplifying and digitising the processes for starting a business and finding new investment opportunities through a “life events” approach.

It also discussed frameworks for the elimination of certain permits and their possible replacement with simplified specifications, where appropriate.

The meeting stressed the importance of regular monitoring and assessment of the business climate, based on internatio
nally accepted approaches and standards.

This would “improve Tunisia’s positioning and competitiveness and make it more capable of attracting international investment”.

Source: Agence Tunis Afrique Presse