Day: June 8, 2018

Developing financial institutions for more inclusiveness in the MENA region

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In its study entitled “Financial Development and Inclusion in Egypt, Jordan, Morocco and Tunisia”, the Euro-Mediterranean Network for Economic Studies (EMNES) analyses a financial system that is frequently under-developed and fails to provide sufficient lending to SMEs and households. “Financial institutions and markets need to be well developed in order to contribute to sustainable and inclusive economic growth”. In its latest study, the Euro-Mediterranean Network for Economic Studies (EMNES) takes an in-depth look at financial systems and their involvement in sustainable economic growth in Egypt, Jordan, Morocco and Tunisia. “The financial…

Tourist receipts reach 38% in first 5 months of 2018

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Tourism receipts climb 38 % in Tunisian dinar in the first five months of 2018, compared with the same period last year. These receipts reached 876.2 million dinars, until May 20, 2018. Their increase is about 32% in dollar and 16% in euro, Minister of Tourism and Handicrafts Salma Elloumi Rekik said at a meeting in Monastir. “These indicators reflect the recovery of tourism activity, especially for the European markets, with the arrival of 2 million 500 thousand tourists from the beginning of this year, until May 2018, up 21%…

Tunisia annual inflation rate stands at 7.7 % in May 2018

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Tunisia’s annual inflation held steady in May at 7.7 percent year-on-year, official data showed on Thursday. Inflation accelerated from 6.9 percent in January to 7.7 percent in April, its highest level since 1991. The central bank raised its key interest rate to 5.75 percent in March from 5.0 percent to tackle inflation. Prices of free products (non-administered) edged up 8.5% against 5.0% for administered products. Free food products rose by 10.6% against 2.4% for administered products. In May 2018, food prices rose by 9.3% year-on-year (8.9% in April), following the…

Tunisia to ban all plastic bags from 2020

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There will be no production, importation, selling or distribution of non-biodegradable plastic bags in Tunisia from December 31, 2019. The announcement was made on World Environment Day by Minister for the Environment and Local Affairs Riadh Mouakher. Tunisia is thus continuing its fight against plastic bags that it launched in December 2015, but began having an effect in March 2017 with a ban on non-biodegradable sacks in supermarkets and in pharmacies starting on March 1 of this year. Producers’ figures show that the use of plastic bags in supermarkets –…