Minister of Economy and Planning Samir Saïed had a series of meetings with officials of regional and international financial institutions and development and investment agencies, on the sidelines of his participation in the 2023 Annual Meetings of the World Bank Group (WBG) and the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
They are mainly European Investment Bank (EIB) Vice-President Ricardo Mourinho Félix, Director of the Middle East and Central Asia Department at the International Monetary Fund Jihad Azour, International Finance Corporation (IFC) Regional Vice President for Africa Sérgio Pimenta and World Bank Vice President for Middle East and North Africa Ferid Belhaj.
Talks focused on ways to scale up cooperation with these institutions in a bid to support the reform process undertaken by the Tunisian government.
They also offered the opportunity to outline the national programme of reform designed to restore the pace of growth, re-establish economic balances and improve social conditions. Reforms to enhance the business and investment environment, the broad lines of Tunisia Strategic Vision 2023 and the Development Plan 2023/2025 also came under spotlight.
The minister said the government is keen to implement reforms progressively while securing the conditions of economic recovery and preserving social stability and peace.
Reaching an agreement with the IMF in the shortest time possible is of key importance, Saied added, to embark on cooperation programmes involving the various partners.
Officials of different international institutions said there is readiness to keep supporting the Tunisian reform programme. A successful conclusion of negotiations with the IMF, they said, is necessary to unblock programmes.
Saïed also had a talk with Italy’s Minister of Economy and Finance Giancarlo Giorgetti; ways to boost cooperation took centre stage.
The Italian official “laid emphasis on the strategic role played by Tunisia in the Mediterranean and the whole region” and highlighted the importance of “its economic and social stability.”
Saïed said Tunisia wants stronger economic relations with Italy; It also seeks to expand business ties in sectors of high added value (renewables, the pharmaceutical industry, car components, the aeronautics industry, agri-food,business, textile, IT…).
The 2023 Annual Meetings of the World Bank Group (WBG) and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) are held on April 10-16 in Washington DC.
Source: Agence Tunis Afrique Presse