Year: 2017

Tunisian investment minister meets with IMF delegation

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Tunisia’s Minister for Development, Investment and International Cooperation, Zied Laahari, met with a delegation from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) led by Rothern Bjorn in Tunis, to monitor progress on implementation of structural economic reforms, according to a statement from the Tunisian Development Ministry. The reforms are part of an aid package granted to Tunisia, the results of which are linked to the disbursement of the third tranche of a 2.9-billion-dollar loan to Tunisia with the IMF’s Extended Fund Facility (EFF). The statement said the meeting, which focused on the…

North Africa: IFC Invests €15 Million in Private Equity Fund to Help SMEs in North Africa

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IFC, a member of the World Bank Group, is investing €15 million in a new private equity fund by AfricInvest, a leading private equity fund manager, to help expand access to finance for small and medium enterprises in North Africa. The investment is part of a larger effort to support economic growth and create jobs. Globally, the Middle East and North Africa region ranks low in terms of lending to small and medium enterprises (SMEs) which form the backbone of the economy and are crucial for job creation. IFC’s financing…

Barclays Africa, China Development Bank sign agreement to cooperate on development projects in Africa

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Barclays Africa will leverage the MoU to unlock opportunities in order to strengthen its contribution towards Africa’s economic growth and development Barclays Africa Group Limited (BAGL) (www.BarclaysAfrica.com) and China Development Bank (CDB) (www.CDB.com.cn) have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) aimed at strengthening cooperation and exploring opportunities to fund development projects in Africa. Given CDB’s focus on infrastructure finance for roads, railways and dams, Barclays Africa will leverage the MoU to unlock opportunities in order to strengthen its contribution towards Africa’s economic growth and development. Barclays Africa will also extract…

Parisian Exploration of New Oils Goes International

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Olio Nuovo Days announced the third edition ‘Hémisphère Nord’ at a press conference in Paris. Producers from around the world and prominent figures of the olive oil market gathered on November 27 at Le Cordon Bleu Paris school for a preview of the third edition of Olio Nuovo Days (OND). The concept, initiated in 2015, aims at promoting the freshest olive oils and revealing them to the consumer by creating a direct bond between chefs, consumers and the producers. OND ‘Hémisphère Nord’ will be held on January 16-20, 2018, presenting to the…

Bulgaria, Tunisia Sign Agreement on Application of Social Security Agreement

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Bulgaria, Tunisia Sign Agreement on Application of Social Security Agreement Labour and Social Policy Minister Bisser Petkov and Tunisia’s Social Affairs Minister Mohamed Trabelsi have signed an administrative agreement which regulates the application of a bilateral Social Security Agreement, Petkov’s Ministry said. Effective as of May 1, 2017, the agreement regulates social security for people working in Bulgaria and Tunisia and the procedure for granting and paying pensions to people with contributory service in the two countries. The administrative agreement determines the competent institutions and the procedures for application of…

Women’s Rights Reforms in Tunisia Offer Hope

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he Arab Spring fostered hope for democratic reforms across the Middle East and North Africa region. Few of these hopes have come to fruition, with political violence, suppression of dissenting voices, and economic turmoil marking the region, rather than the political and economic reforms that had once seemed possible. In the realm of women’s rights, however, we are seeing slow progress. Despite a restrictive system of male guardianship, Saudi women were recently given the long withheld right to drive. This summer, Jordan and Lebanon repealed laws that would exonerate a rapist if he…

RUMP TRAVEL BAN What is Donald Trump’s travel ban, which Muslim countries are affected and is there a ban on laptops on flights?

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The ban on travellers from mostly Muslim countries has proved one of the most divisive policies of Trump’s presidency DONALD Trump’s travel ban on visitors from several mainly Muslim countries has proved one of the most controversial issues of his first year in office. But the Supreme Court has handed a victory to the US president by allowing the administration to enforce the policy, which applies to six nations. Here’s what you need to know… What is Donald Trump’s ‘Muslim travel ban’ and which countries are affected? On December 4, Supreme…

Opinion: Behind Bars, Prisoners are Radicalized

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It is no strange fact that prison systems across the world are culpable for producing increasingly violent criminals.  Ideological radicalization and violent extremism are no exceptions to this logic. With strong evidence to support that terrorist networks are formed in prison systems, this concern must take new primacy.  As Daesh has lost militarily, numbers of remaining fighters will seek to come home. The latest numbers from The Soufan Group places the total number of Jordanian fighters at 3000 of which 250 have returned home. In addition, another 900 remain in…

Angela Merkel’s G20 achievements

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The chancellor’s chief of staff reviews the achievements of Germany’s G20 presidency, which ended Thursday. He highlighted shadow-banking regulations, the fight against corporate tax evasion and financial stability. Germany’s year-long presidency of the G20 ended on Thursday, and now, the office has been transferred to Argentina. The twelve months at the helm of the world’s most important forum for international economic cooperation, were intense and successful. And the year’s challenges showed again the importance of international trust and cooperation. Not to forget continuity, as much of the work involved in…

Tunisians reach Italian shores in ever larger numbers

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Residents of the Tunisian coastal city of Kelibia often swell with pride when telling visitors how they can see Italy from their homes on a clear summer day. But beyond offering a pleasant view, the close proximity of Europe has tempted the young to emigrate clandestinely to start new lives on another continent. “Tunisia is finished,” said Omar Aydi, 25, who traveled by boat from Tunisia to Italy despite not having a job lined up. Aydi, who spoke to Al-Monitor via social media, now lives with a friend in Milan…