Why not make of Tunisia a tax haven, calls Sophien Bennaceur

Speaking to Express FM on Tuesday morning, Sophien bennaceur Nidaa Tounès leader and Founder and Chair of the American-Tunisian Business Council gave an account on the solutions to bring Tunisia out of the current delicate juncture at the political and economic level. Mr. Bennaceur said that we have the necessary components to achieve success, namely a nascent and well-established democracy, a first democratic President of the Republic in Tunisia’s history who assumes his role as a guarantor of freedoms and rights uniting all the Tunisian people. The problem lies, according…

Moody’s downgrades Tunisia’s rating to B1, maintains negative outlook

Moody’s Investors Service has today downgraded the long-term issuer rating of the government of Tunisia to B1 from Ba3 and maintained the negative outlook. Moody’s has also downgraded the foreign currency debt rating of the Central Bank of Tunisia to B1 from Ba3 and maintained the negative outlook, in addition to downgrading the shelf/MTN rating to (P)B1 from (P)Ba3. The Government of Tunisia is legally responsible for the payments on all of the central bank’s bonds. These debt instruments are issued on behalf of the government. The key drivers for…

As Tunisia Weighs Women’s Rights Proposal, Some Of The Staunchest Opponents Are Women

On National Women’s Day in Tunisia, celebrated last Sunday, President Beji Caid Essebsi announced the review of a law that demands that a man receive twice the share of an inheritance as a woman. Changing this would put Tunisia at the forefront of a progressive revolution on an issue that affects many Muslim-majority countries. But Essebsi’s announcement has been met with consternation — not least from many Tunisian women. Mona Ibrahim, the deputy leader of the country’s conservative Ennahdha political party, says she has been inundated with phone calls by female constituents…

Tunisia 3rd in Africa in mobile connectivity (GSMA ranking)

Tunisia was ranked third in Africa in the mobile connectivity index compiled by GSMA, the global mobile operators Association. Mauritius came first. South Africa (world’s 84th) is second in Africa while Morocco, Egypt, Algeria, Botswana, Namibia and Ghana came behind Tunisia, successively. Angola closes the African Top 10 The ranking features 41 African countries.  Internet accessibility, prices of mobile devices, relevant services and political environment are among the factors the Association considered to determine the rankings. This criterion allowed scores to be awarded from 0 to 100 points. Worldwide, Australia,…

Tunisian army captures seven fuel smugglers in Libyan border firefight

Tunisian army units exchanged fire with armed men crossing the frontier berm from Libya near Medenine early this morning. The clash ended with Tunisian troops capturing six vehicles, one of them loaded with fuel. The defence ministry in Tunis reported that seven men, some from the local towns of Remada and  Dhehiba had been arrested.  The rest of the smuggling convoy, which is said to have included six technicals with machine guns, turned round and headed back into Libya, shadowed by a helicopter gunship. The Tunisians have given no details…

Tunisia Foils Daesh Plan to Seize Country’s Southern Territories

Tunisian authorities foiled a terrorist plot to seize territory in the country’s south. Tunisian authorities foiled a terrorist plot of the Islamic State (Daesh) terrorist group, targeting police and military in order to seize territory in the country’s south, media reported Tuesday, citing the country’s Interior Ministry.According to the Europe 1 radio, the Tunisian Interior Ministry uncovered a terrorist plot aimed at attacking police and army units located on the country’s southern territories in order to take control over them, as it was in 2016, when militants attempted to seize the city of Ben Gardane but were repelled by the army. This year’s plan was reportedly…

Tunisia: Derbal expects economy to growth between 3 and 3.5% in 2018

Prime Minister’s adviser in charge of tax reform Faisal Derbal told ExpressFm he expected growth to stand at 2.2% this year and between 3 and 3.5% in the next year. He also assured that it is necessary to support companies in good standing with the tax authorities, while revealing that there will be a real hunt for fraudsters at the same time as the establishment of a line of financing for the restructuring of companies and encouraging exporting enterprises. Derbal also said that there will be a package of tax…

Two years after Sousse attack, British tourists return to Tunisia

Alistair Burt, the British minister of state for the Middle East and North Africa, announced July 26 that his country is no longer advising its citizens against flying to Tunisia, including the capital and most resorts. In June 2015, Britain warned its nationals against traveling to Tunisia following the terrorist attack on a beach resort in Sousse, east of Tunis. British travel companies resumed their flights to Tunisia July 28. On June 26, 2015, Tunisian national and Islamic State member Seifeddine Rezgui attacked a hotel on the beach in Sousse, killing…

Tunisia seeks equality between women and men in inheritance: President

Tunisia was recently the first Arab country to issue a law criminalising violence against women specifically  Tunisian President Beji Caid Essebsi said Sunday that his country is seeking to establish equality between men and women in inheritance, as the first Arab country to make such a move.He also announced forming a committee to study the matter. In his speech at the 61st commemoration of the Code of Personal Statue (CPS) that criminalises polygamy, Essebsi asked the government and his minister of justice to end a regulation that prohibits the documentation…

Tunisia: Forest fire Emergency Plan of Action

A. Situation analysis Description of the disaster Current dry and hot weather conditions in Tunisia are considerably increasing the risk for fires. Hot winds from the south contributes to worsen the situation, spreading easily any fire outbreak to cause widespread destruction. On the 31st of July, a fire outbreak in Jendouba Governorate (North-West region of the country) the delegations of Ain Draham and Fernana resulted in the destruction of houses displacing around 500 persons, with the families currently being in a very vulnerable situation without any shelter. From that date…