Month: July 2025

Tunisia’s Central Bank announced Wednesday that it is keeping its key interest rate unchanged at 7.5%, maintaining the level set in March when it made its first rate cut in five years. The decision comes as inflation continues to ease, offering some breathing room for policymakers. Consumer prices rose 5.4% in June, marking the lowest inflation rate in five years. The government forecasts an average inflation rate of 6.2% for 2025, down from 7% in 2024, signaling cautious optimism in tackling persistent price pressures. Despite progress on inflation, Tunisia’s external…

As Tunisia grapples with persistent economic challenges, the tourism sector stands out as a rare bright spot. Often described as a cornerstone of the national economy, tourism contributes roughly 10% of GDP and supports hundreds of thousands of jobs—a vital lifeline in a difficult economic climate. In the first half of 2025, the country welcomed more than 4.3 million international visitors, marking an 11% increase compared to the same period in 2024. Tourism revenue also rose sharply, climbing over 8% to reach approximately 3 billion dinars (around USD 1 billion).…

Tunisia’s transition toward cleaner and more affordable energy is gaining ground in the country’s northwest, where over 1,250 homes and businesses have been connected to the national natural gas grid. The initiative, led by the Tunisian Company of Electricity and Gas (STEG), is part of a wider government effort to modernize energy infrastructure and reduce reliance on heavy fuel oil. Backed by €49.39 million in financing from the African Development Bank (AfDB), the Natural Gas Transport and Distribution Network Development Project is transforming 19 municipalities across the region. Recent network…

The long-anticipated Costa Coralis tourism and development project in Tabarka, northwestern Tunisia, is edging closer to reality, with final approval now pending from several state authorities. Following preliminary green lights and feasibility studies conducted by global consultancy firms such as Deloitte, the project awaits validation from a web of ministries, including those responsible for Infrastructure, Environment, State Property, and Territorial Affairs. Stretching across 140 hectares of prime coastal land in the Jendouba governorate, Costa Coralis is poised to become a flagship development in Tunisia’s tourism sector. But the process is…

In a significant move toward stronger oversight of Tunisia’s financial and insurance sectors, the Financial Market Council (CMF) and the General Insurance Committee (CGA) have signed a formal cooperation and information exchange agreement, signaling a new era of inter-agency coordination. The agreement was signed during a ceremony held at the CGA headquarters, with Jouda Khemiri, president of the CGA, and Hatem Smiri, president of the CMF, officiating the event. Senior officials from both institutions were present to mark the occasion. According to the joint statement released Thursday, the agreement aims…

The African Development Bank (AfDB) has unveiled its 2025 Country Focus Report for Tunisia, offering a strategic roadmap to unlock the nation’s full economic potential. Titled “Unlocking Tunisia’s Capital for Sustainable Development,” the report was launched during a high-level workshop in Tunis attended by government officials, private sector leaders, civil society representatives, and international development partners. The report puts forward a series of targeted policy recommendations designed to drive Tunisia toward more inclusive, resilient, and sustainable growth. At its core is a call for the more effective mobilization and deployment…