Tunisia's Minister of Economy and Planning, Samir Abdel Hafiz, met with a World Bank delegation on Wednesday to discuss ways to expand financial and technical cooperation between the two parties. The meeting, which included the World Bank's Regional Director for the Maghreb and Malta, Amadou Mustapha Ndiaye, focused on the progress of joint programs and prospects for enhancing them. The two sides will soon begin preparing a new country partnership program aligned with Tunisia's 2026-2030 development plan.
During the meeting, Minister Abdel Hafiz expressed his desire to strengthen partnership in key sectors such as water, energy, health, and social protection. He also called for exploring possibilities to expand cooperation to include infrastructure projects, enhance private sector support, and improve the business climate. The Minister emphasized the importance of building on existing collaborations to drive economic growth and development in Tunisia.
The World Bank's Regional Director, Amadou Mustapha Ndiaye, reaffirmed his institution's commitment to continuing support for Tunisia's development projects and reform programs. He noted that despite external shocks and a challenging global environment, Tunisia's economy has shown resilience, laying the groundwork for a gradual economic recovery. Ndiaye expressed confidence in Tunisia's ability to navigate these challenges and achieve sustainable growth.
The Director of the North Africa and Horn of Africa department at the World Bank, Ari Naim, also attended the meeting. He highlighted the institution's readiness to enhance financial and technical cooperation with Tunisia, including programs aimed at improving the business climate and expanding support for the private sector. Naim emphasized the importance of leveraging available opportunities and investing in Tunisia's potential for growth.
The new country partnership program will be designed to align with Tunisia's development priorities, as outlined in the 2026-2030 plan. This plan aims to drive economic growth, improve living standards, and address key development challenges. The World Bank has been a key partner for Tunisia, providing financial and technical support for various development projects across different sectors.
Tunisia's economy has faced significant challenges in recent years, including a decline in economic growth and rising debt levels. The government has been implementing reforms aimed at stabilizing the economy and promoting sustainable growth. The World Bank's support has been crucial in helping Tunisia address these challenges and achieve its development goals.
The meeting between the Economy Ministry and World Bank officials reflects the ongoing efforts to strengthen partnerships and cooperation between Tunisia and international development institutions. The two sides are expected to continue discussions on the new country partnership program, which will outline the framework for future cooperation and support for Tunisia's development priorities.
Key points
- The World Bank has reaffirmed its commitment to supporting Tunisia's development projects and reform programs.
- The new country partnership program will align with Tunisia's 2026-2030 development plan.
- The meeting discussed expanding cooperation in key sectors such as water, energy, health, and social protection.
