Month: September 2019

Net foreign reserves reach 17,769 MD, 100 days of import as of September 9 (BCT)

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Net foreign exchange reserves reached, Monday, September 9, 2019, for the first time in over two years, nearly 17,769 million dinars (MD), i.e. the equivalent of 100 days of import, according to data published by Central Bank of Tunisia (BCT).  Last year during the same period, foreign currency reserves were just under 11,009 MD, the equivalent of 70 days of imports. Tunisia’s foreign exchange reached 3 digits on Monday, exceeding the “recommended minimum security threshold” set at 90 days of import. Cumulative tourism receipts reached 3,933.5 MD according to the…

Mashrou3i project initiative for olive oil platform in Beja closes in Ben Ismail family reserve

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The Mashrou3i project initiative to set up an olive oil platform in Beja ended on Saturday, September 7 in Toukaber in the Ben Ismail family reserve, bringing together nearly 30 actors from the olive oil sector (farmers, oil mill operators, SMSAs, bank and support structure representatives) to present the results of the collaboration initiated last February. This action is part of the activities of the Mashrou3i Programme to support farmers in the region, highlighting the need to bring together the stakeholders concerned to promote the value chain for olive oil.…

Tunisia’s hopefuls at TV debate, a Tunisian premiere

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Few days before the first round of Tunisia’s presidential election, Tunisia on Saturday initiated a historical political event over three nights of televised debates between the candidates, a Tunisian premiere. The political debate of the 26 hopefuls over three sessions, who will compete to show the highlight of their campaigns, is a key milestone in Tunisian contemporary history in politics ahead of the poll due for September 15, 2019. “The road to Carthage: Tunisia makes its choice”, is a programme that was broadcast on the national public TV channel along…

BCT and NBU ink MoU

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The Central Bank of Tunisia (BCT and the National Bank of Ukraine (NBU) inked Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). , According to a BCT statement released Friday. The MoU aims to develop and expand a framework of knowledge and expertise sharing in different areas mainly Communication, Transformation, Monetary Policy and Currency Regulation,” reads the Statement. BCT Governor Marouane El Abassi placed emphasis on the importance of this MoU which would help the BCT to collaborate with an institution that initiates best practices.  “We share similarities with the NBU, particularly in the management of the phases…

EU to send 100 observers to monitor legislative, presidential elections in Tunisia

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The European Union will send 100 observers for September early presidential elections and October parliamentary polls in Tunisia at the request of the government and the Independent High Authority for the Election (ISIE). The observers will monitor the electoral process, campaigns, the voting process and will make recommendations for the following election, Marie-Violette César, Deputy Chief of the EU mission in Tunisia in charge of the legislative and presidential election told media on Wednesday. 38 of the observers’ team are already in Tunisia and 28 of those present arrived Monday…

TASDIR+, Carthage Business Angels launch cross-border operation to support Tunisian startups overseas

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The TASDIR+ and Carthage Business Angels are launching a cross-border operation to support Tunisian startups overseas, which is due to be initiated as of September 2019, the Export Promotion Centre (CEPEX) said on Wednesday. The overall cost of the project is estimated at 2,727,500 million dinars. The TASDIR+ funds will repay up to 70% of the costs incurred by the project holder. This “StartUp Overseas” project aims to position the Tunisian innovative and high-potential startups in the international markets. Relying on innovation for a sustainable and high-added-value export, the TASDIR+…

China Campus 2019 exhibition held to attract more Tunisian students

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The exhibition of “China Campus 2019” was held on Tuesday with the participation of 31 Chinese universities. It was jointly hosted by China Scholarship Council (CSC), the Chinese embassy in Tunis and Tunisian Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research. CSC Vice Secretary-General Wang Shenggang said that the Chinese delegation came to Tunisia to introduce China’s higher education and attract more Tunisian youth to study in China. He said that in 2018 more than 660,000 Chinese students went abroad to study, while about 490,000 foreign students came to China to…

16th South-South cooperation conference opens in Tunis

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The 16th International Ministerial Conference on South-South Cooperation on Population and Development was inaugurated Tuesday in Tunis. The conference aimed to discuss developing national leadership that can facilitate youths and adolescents’ access to sexual and reproductive health. It also provides the opportunity to enhance the experience on family planning and medical and psychological services to migrants. The two-day event was held at the initiative of the National Office of Family and Population, Partners in Population and Development and United Nations Population Fund. Interim Minister of Health Sonia Ben Sheikh said…

Inflation still high despite disinflationary trend, BCT reveals in a report

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“Despite the disinflationary trend that has taken hold in recent months, thanks in particular to a restrictive monetary policy, both headline and core inflation are still at historically high levels that do not favour an imminent return to global macroeconomic equilibrium,” the BCT notes in a business survey published on Tuesday. Thus, the recent medium-term forecasts of the Central Bank of Tunisia (BCT) have slightly lowered the expected inflation rate for 2019 as a whole to 6.9% from 7.3% in 2018. “On the outlook, the gradual attenuation of price increases…

Presidential election campaigns start

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The campaigns for the presidential election scheduled on Sept. 15 started Monday on the Tunisian territory and will continue until September 13. The election campaign abroad began from August 31 to September 11. The Independent High Authority for Elections (ISIE) announced  Saturday a list of 26 candidates running for the presidential election. According to the ISIE, the total number of voters registered in the presidential and legislative elections reached 7.2 million. As for the presidential election abroad, which will take place on September 13, 14 and 15, the ISIE has…