IsDB and Livelihood Fund partners lead discussions on gender-inclusive financing and infrastructure at 69th session of UN Commission on Status of Women

A high-level panel discussion hosted by the IsDB-managed Lives and Livelihoods Fund on the sidelines of the 69th annual session of the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women concluded with a call for strengthening gender-inclusive financing and social infrastructure to accelerate the achievement of gender equality and women’s empowerment. The side event, titled “Harnessing Innovative Financing and Gender Social Infrastructure to Promote Women’s Empowerment,” featured two inspiring and thought-provoking sessions that addressed key issues affecting women in IDB member countries. The event was opened by Mr. Hamid Ajibai…

African countries to dramatically speed up solar panels

In 2024, African countries commissioned 2.4 GW of solar panels, of which South Africa accounted for 46%, Egypt – for 29%, and all other countries including Nigeria, Zambia and Angola – for 25%. In the years immediately ahead, the sector development pace will be accelerated. According to the forecast by Global Solar Council, between 2025 and 2028 23 GW of solar panels will be commissioned in the region, resulting in more than doubling the current installed capacity. The process of technologies getting cheaper will support the sector, globalenergyprize said. According…

Moody’s upgrades Tunisian banking system rating from negative to stable

The outlook for the Tunisian banking system has been upgraded from negative to stable, according to a new rating by Moody’s, as reported by the Tunisian press on Thursday. “This outlook is based on the government’s demonstrated ability to meet its debt repayment commitments and the reduced risk of a sovereign credit event,” Moody’s explained. On the other hand, it was cautious about the country’s economic context, particularly with regard to weak economic growth and fiscal and trade balances. “Weak economic growth, large fiscal and external imbalances, relatively high financial…

More incentives for olive oil exports

Tunisia invests more and more in the olive oil sector and launches new measures for increasingly promote exports of the oil product which in the campaign just ended reached the 340 thousand tons. The Olive oil sector is increasingly assuming a role of primary importance in the agri-food sector of the North African country and with respect to which, therefore, the attention of government authorities is continually growing. At a cabinet meeting held recently, a strategic study was announced on the development prospects of the olive oil sector in terms of production, processing, valorization…

Insurance market grows by nearly 11% in 2024

Net insurance premiums for insurance companies in Tunisia reached TND3.82bn ($1.24bn) in 2024, up from TND3.45bn in the previous year, a 10.8% increase, according to preliminary figures released by the General Insurance Committee (CGA), the insurance sector’s regulatory authority. Life insurance business in 2024 witnessed the fastest growth as the size of its operations reached TND1.15bn against TND955m in the past year, a jump of 20.1%. The life branch commanded a share of 30% of the market premium volume in 2024, up from 27.7% in 2023. TunisianMonitorOnline (NejiMed)

PhosCo secures key approvals and funding to advance Gasaat phosphate project

PhosCo (ASX: PHO) has received a key approval, commenced a $5 million capital raising and finalised global financing support to move its Gasaat phosphate project in Tunisia towards commercialisation. The company’s receipt of an exploration permit enables it to immediately commence its planned major resource drilling program at Gasaat. It follows the company signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) last year with the government of Tunisia and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) in a first-of-its-kind deal for Tunisia, smallcaps reports. The new drilling will test the upside identified at Gasaat,…

5-year plan to sharply boost phosphate output approved

Tunisia has approved an investment plan of nearly 525 million Tunisian dinars ($165 million) for the expansion of its phosphate production by almost five times by 2030, a newspaper reported on Monday. The five-year plan, which will start in 2025, will increase the production of phosphate by 1.5 million tonnes a year to almost 8.5 million tonnes by 2030, the newspaper said. “The plan was prompted by a sharp recovery in the phosphate industry last year after a steady decline in previous years,” it said. It Abdelkader Amaïdi, general manager…

Overall fill rate of dams stood at 35.7% 

The total filling level of dams in Tunisia stood at 35.7% on 7 March 2024. the latest data published on Friday by the National Observatory of Agriculture (ONAGRI) revealed. At 840 million cubic metres (m³), water reserves in these plants remained relatively stable compared to the same period last year. However, compared to the average recorded over the past three years, there has been a slight decline of 4.6%.  It is important to note that the fill rate varies significantly across regions. Dams in the north of the country have…

World Bank supports new $125 million health project in Tunisia

The World Bank is supporting a new $125 million health project in Tunisia, the Ministry of Health revealed on the sidelines of Wednesday’s meeting between minister Mustapha Ferjani and a delegation from the World Bank, led by Resident chief of mission Alexander Arrobio and director for North Africa Michael Granolatti. This program, funded by the Global Fund for Epidemics, aims to strengthen health services in Tunisia. The project axes include strengthening health response capacities, supporting the Strategic Operations Center and the Emergency and Resuscitation Teams (Smur); advanced epidemiological surveillance, thanks to the implementation of a…

Tunisia injects $2.5 million to boost African technology startups

Tunisia reinforces its commitment to technological innovation by investing $2.5 million in the pan-African venture capital fund “LoftyInc Alpha Fund I”. This initiative, led by the ANAVA fund of funds, financed by Tunisia’s Caisse des Dépôts et Consignations (CDC) and managed by Smart Capital, aims to support African technology startups in the seed phase, thereby strengthening the digital infrastructure across the continent. The ANAVA fund of funds is a key component of the national “Startup Tunisia” initiative, which aims to position Tunisia as an innovation hub at the intersection of…