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Tunisia: New government sets 7 economic and social priorities for next stage

February 27, 2020 at 4:46 am

Tunisian President Kais Saied (R) and Tunisian former Finance Minister Elyes Fakhfakh (L) hold a meeting after Fakhfakh received the letter of tasking from Saied to form new government at the Carthage Palace in Tunis, Tunisia on 21 January 2020. [Tunisian Presidency / Handout – Anadolu Agency]

Tunisian Prime Minister-designate, Elyes Fakhfakh, identified seven major economic and social priorities that top his government’s work plan, aimed at covering large economic sectors and supporting all social categories.

Fakhfakh said, in a statement today before Parliament to gain confidence, that his government will deal with the file of economic monopoly through working to counter-trafficking activities, especially smuggling of subsidised commodities.

Regarding the second economic priority, Fakhfakh pledged to provide urgent support to the institutions that constitute the pillar of the Tunisian economy and to stand with investors and exporters by encouraging and supporting them, in addition to simplifying procedures and administrative complications.

He pointed out that the government’s response to corruption, within the framework of its third economic priority, will be clear, fast, strong and deterrent, and that the government will establish a sustainable culture of integrity and address all sorts of tampering with public funds.

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The fourth point in Fakhfakh’s plan asserted that the government would work immediately after gaining confidence to mobilise financial resources, whether in global markets or from international financial institutions while pledging to stop the borrowing strategy that is not directed to investment.

Fakhfakh conveyed, about the fifth economic priority, the need to preserve the value of the national currency and reduce the rate of inflation to avoid monetary solutions that harm economic growth.

The sixth priority revolves around handling the mining basin and phosphate file. Fakhfakh stressed that the seventh economic priority for his government is to find solutions to suspended files that have caused great suffering to many social groups, especially public facilities workers, professors and substitute teachers.