Brussels, 05/11/2012 (Agence Europe) - On Monday 5 November, the Government of Luxembourg Directorate for Development and Cooperation and the EIB launched a €4 million programme for supporting the development of the microfinance sector in Tunisia. The programme will be implemented by Appui au Développement Autonome (ADA) and will be rolled over the next five years. This initiative received the support of the FEMIP Trust Fund, established in 2004, whose main objective is to support private sector development in the Mediterranean partner countries. The EIB pointed out that with microfinance commitments in the Southern and Eastern Mediterranean region of over €27 million in the last ten years, the EIB has supported local microfinance institutions that have together helped over 800,000 active micro-borrowers, provided financing to 2,300 micro, small and medium enterprises and have created 30,000 jobs. More than €102 million has been granted for technical assistance operations to build knowledge and capacity and help develop the region's integration. (FB/transl.fl)