Year: 2018

Parliament: Startup Act passed

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The Startup Act was passed by the House of People’s Representatives (HPR) at a plenary session on Monday evening. Anouar Maarouf, Minister of Communication Technologies and Digital Economy described the draft law as “revolutionary”, considering that its adoption represents a first step on the road to the construction of country’s future. He added “the Act intervenes in response to a call made by young people and will help to overcome the obstacles that hinder the implementation of their projects”. “This law is likely to create an economic dynamic by attracting…

34th International Book Fair kicks off on April 6 in Tunis

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The 34th edition of  International book fair of Tunis will kick off on April 6, by Prime Minister Youssef Chahed, with attendance of figures from the world of culture, media and diplomats. A total of 259 exhibitors from 25 countries will take part in the most important cultural event nationwide. Algeria also registers its participation in this new edition as a guest of honour, where the presence of Algerian publishers will be important. Dr. Chokri Mabkhout, Director of the International book fair of Tunis who was awarded many Prizes, most…

Kremlin says Trump suggested Putin visit the White House

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A Kremlin aide said on Monday that U.S. President Donald Trump suggested the White House as the venue for a summit with Russia’s Vladimir Putin when they discussed the idea of meeting in a telephone call last month. Since that call, on March 20, preparations for a possible summit have not progressed because of a diplomatic row, the aide, Yuri Ushakov, said. “When our presidents spoke on the phone, Trump proposed having the first meeting in Washington, in the White House,” Ushakov told reporters at a briefing.  “Trump called Putin…

Cooperation agreements between Tunisia and Argentina inked

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Argentine Minister of Foreign Affairs and Worship Jorge Marcelo Faurie highlighted the importance granted by Argentina to promoting its relations with Tunisia and strengthening bilateral co-operation especially in the agricultural, trade and pharmaceutical industry fields when received on Monday by President Beji Caid Essebsi, Currently in a three-day working visit to Tunisia (March 31-April 2), Faurie also evoked the possibility to develop tripartite co-operation with Tunisia on the basis of opportunities available in Latin America and in Africa. While hailing Tunisia’s democratic experience He further highlighted Argentina’s commitment to support…

Arab countries ranked by youth unemployment

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Figures showed a worrying 9 percent increase in youth unemployment compared to the results of the previous year. Last year, the results of the ninth ASDA’A Burson-Marsteller Arab Youth Survey showed that more than half of the Arab youth in the region believe that their biggest concern about the future is the fear of unemployment. At the time, 51 percent of young Arabs, male and female between the ages of 18-24, expressed their worries that they might not be able to either keep their current jobs or find new positions, as they complained…

Islamic Development Bank to finance $185 mln projects in Tunisia

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The Islamic Development Bank has agreed on Sunday to lend Tunisia $185 million to finance developments including an electricity project, an official told Reuters. The bank agreed to finance an electricity link worth $150 as well as the construction of hospitals in Kasserine and Kef worth $34 million. The agreement will be signed on Thursday between Tunisia’s Minister of Development and the head of the bank, which holds its annual meeting in the country this year. TunisianMonitorOnline (Reuters)

Tunisians demonstrate in solidarity with Palestine

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Demonstrations Tunis, Sfax part of Palestine’s Land Day commemoration Tunisian cities on Saturday demonstrated in solidarity with Palestine as part of that country’s Land Day  Commemorations, Anadolu Agency reports. Protests were held in Tunisia’s capital of Tunis and Sfax, southeast of Tunis. Hundreds of demonstrators gathered at the Avenue Habib Bourguiba in Tunis coloring the streets in the colors of the Palestinian flag. Banners such as “The people want the independence of Palestine ” and “normalizing relations with Israel, should be a crime” were carried by demonstrators. In Sfax, the Tunisian Student Association organized…

Tunis exhibit celebrates long tradition of plastic art, highlights challenges

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Plastic art, including painting, sculptures and installations, has a tradition in Tunisia dating to 1936. In celebration of Tunisia’s national heritage month, the Union of Tunisian Plastic Artists inaugurated an exhibition featuring more than 450 works from 265 Tunisian artists. The exhibition runs through April 4 at the Art Gallery of the Palace of Kheireddine and three other galleries around Tunis. “The annual exhibition takes place in different galleries to showcase the works of Tunisian artists,” said Wissem Gharsallah, secretary-general of the Union of Tunisian Plastic Artists. “It is also…

Tunisia raises fuel prices again to reduce budget deficit

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Tunisia raised fuel prices on Saturday for the second time in three months in an effort to rein in its budget deficit, one of a series of reforms the country’s international lenders want. The price of a litre of petrol will rise about 3 percent, from 1.80 dinars to 1.85 dinars, starting Sunday, the ministry of energy said in a statement. The last increase was also by about 3 percent, in January of this year.  The International Monetary Fund approved last week the payment of a $257 million tranche of…

Tunisia Continues to Suffer Macroeconomic Vulnerabilities – IMF

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Tunisia continues to face elevated macroeconomic vulnerabilities and high unemployment, said the IMF Executive Board after completing the second review under the Extended Fund Facility (EFF) Arrangement. In 2017, Tunisian economy made a modest recovery. The country’s debt has “continued to increase, inflation has accelerated, and international reserve cover is now less than three months of imports”, added the IMF in a press release, noting that decisive implementation of the policies under the Fund-supported program is necessary to sustain macroeconomic stability. The IMF completion of the review allows the Tunisian…