Central Bank of Tunisia : Time to use borrowing from international market

The Central Bank of Tunisia  said on Monday that it is time to issue bonds worth $1 billion to finance the budget and balance of payments deficits. The bond issue had been previously announced and was originally expected in March. The Board considered that the economic situation requires this exit on the international market, to meet funding requirements especially with the pressures on the foreign exchange reserves on the one hand and on the liquidity in the domestic financial market, on the other hand”. In a statement issued by the…

Tunisia date revenues edge up 31%

Tunisian date revenues reached 235 million U.S. dollars in the current date season from October 2017 to May 24, 2018, up 31 % compared to the same period of last season. Tunisian Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries said on Friday that Tunisian dates have been exported to 80 countries. Tunisia has exported about 101,000 tons of dates this season, against 88,000 tons of last season. Major countries that imported dates from Tunisia include the United States with an increase of 97 percent, Spain up 56 percent, Morocco up 27 percent,…

Tunisian olive oil wins four medals at Evo-IOOC

The Tunisian olive oil has been once again distinguished at the international scale by wining 4 medals (1 gold and 3 silver). This distinction took place during the 3rd Extra Virgin Olive-International Olive Oil Contest “Evo-IOOC” held on May 14-19 in Capaccio Paestum (Italy). The gold medal was won by Karim Fitouri’s “Olivko” and the three silver medals by Domaine Ben Ismail’s “Triomphe Thuccabor,” Nizar Haj Amor’s “Emeraude” and the north west oil Company “Oliviette,” according to the Exports Promotion Centre (CEPEX). This number of medals testifies to the importance…

CONECT receives ISO 9001 certificate, Version 2015

The Confederation of Tunisian Citizen Enterprises (CONECT) .has received, on Thursday in Tunis, the ISO 9001 certificate, Version 2015, a standard that establishes the requirements for a quality management system, which will help businesses and organisations to increase efficiency and increase customer satisfaction. It is a partnership between the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) and CONECT, culminating in the completion of two major projects, namely the implementation of the ISO 9001 V2015 Quality Management System and the creation of new websites for CONECT and CONECT International, using state-of-the-art techniques.…

Agriculture marked as Africa’s path to prosperity, and Dube Port is an example of what is achievable

Processing zones for staple crops, an initiative aimed at boosting food security, have been earmarked for several locations in Africa, and KwaZulu-Natal’s Dube Port is seen as providing valuable lessons. Such zones have been implemented in Malaysia, Vietnam and in Latin American countries, as well as in Tunisia and Morocco, the African Development Bank (AfDB) says. The bank views agriculture in Africa as a key to unlocking export growth. It estimates that more than 65% of the world’s arable land is located in Africa. And, while 61% of Africans work…

Tunisia tourism makes return with revenues up nearly a third

Tunisia’s tourism industry, hard hit by terrorist attacks in 2015, has undergone a “real recovery” with revenues up nearly a third so far this year, the sector’s minister said Wednesday. “There is a significant improvement,” Tourism Minister Selma Elloumi Rekik told AFP, as visitor numbers bettered the first five months of 2014, largely due to rising Russian and Chinese arrivals. Visitor arrivals surpassed 2.3 million through to May 20, up 21.8% from the same period last year and 5.7% higher than for the same period in 2010. Sector revenues hit…

German bank to fund $96m Tunisia water project

Tunisia  signed a €82 million ($96 million) loan agreement with Germany’s KfW Development Bank to finance a water project, the Anadolu Agency reported. The agreement was signed by Tunisian Minister of Development, Investment and International Cooperation, Ziyad Al-Athari, and the Director of KfW’s office in Tunis, Sven Neunsinger. The loan will be used to finance a water desalination plant in the town of Zarat in the Gabès Governorate. Interest on the loan is expected to be 1.86 per cent payable over 15 years with a five-year grace period. The project is estimated…

Messina Group announces new Italy-Tunisia line

The Genoa-based shipping company Ignazio Messina has launched a new sea connection for roll-on/roll-off (ro-ro) merchandise between Italy and Tunisia, with a weekly sailing between the port of Rades and the ports of Genoa and Naples, where the company will return after a five-year absence. The company will employ two leased ro-ro ships for the route, with arrival in the port of Rades on Tuesdays and departure for Italy on Wednesdays. TunisianMonitorOnline (ANSAmed)

China’s latest connection to Africa is via a boom in tourism

hinese travelers are the world’s top tourism spenders, shelling out almost $260 billion in 2017 alone. A growing part of that spend is now happening in Africa, encouraged by relaxed visa rules, increased interested in the continent’s cultural and historical sites, and a initiatives that seek to appeal to Chinese tourists. Last week, the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China launched a joint loyalty program with Kenya’s Stanbic Bank, aiming to create incentives for travel, shopping, and leisure to tourists visiting the two nations. The “I Go Kenya—I Go China” scheme follows the…

New Investment in Tunisia’s Future to Strengthen Primary Education and Ensure All Children Have Access to Preschool

The World Bank Board of Directors approved recently a US$100 million investment loan to support the Tunisian government’s efforts to improve the quality of primary education and expand access to preschool in disadvantaged regions.  The investment will support improving the effectiveness of teachers and school leaders, and, in targeted districts, will expand access to preschool and enhance the primary school environment. The new project is expected to benefit over one million children. The Strengthening Foundations for Learning Project was designed to support the government’s strategic objectives of improving learning in basic education and…