Brussels, 03/03/2011 (Agence Europe) - The concrete mobilisation on the ground of European Investment Bank (EIB) funded projects would allow for €1.87 billion to be injected into the Tunisian economy, according to some estimates. On 2 and 3 March, Philippe de Fontaine Vive, the EIB vice president, visited Tunisia to meet the new Tunisian authorities in order to discuss the economic and social perspectives of the EU's partners. The objective is to provide a swift, concerted and efficient response to this country's economic and social priorities.
The EIB was able to evaluate Tunisia's priority needs in the area of economic and social development and is proposing, in agreement with the provisional government, the following action: - to speed up implementation of public projects, particularly in the purification sector, energy and road structures (€1 billion); - to accompany the creation and development of SMEs through the mobilisation of EIB credit-lines to Tunisian banks and leasing societies (€260 million); - to support the construction of the new Mdhilla factory belonging to the Tunisian chemical group (€140 million); - to implement an extensive road modernisation programme (€160 million); - to finance several major projects worth €310 million in several different domains, such as SMEs in underdeveloped areas, energy (gas sector), equipment for local authorities (highway maintenance, public lighting, drinking water, water purification etc) and micro-credit. These projects will have a direct impact on job creation in Tunisia. They will constitute the spearhead of European co-operation for significantly strengthening Mediterranean countries, explains the EIB. (L.C./transl.fl)