Prime Minister Najla Bouden and International Monetary Fund (IMF) Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva on Monday agreed to continue consultations pending the launch of official negotiations between Tunisia and the Fund as soon as possible.
This was during a working session held on the fringes of the PM’s participation in the World Economic Forum in Davos, on head of a high-level delegation including notably the Minister of Finance and the Governor of the Central Bank of Tunisia.
Najla Bouden reviewed, according to a Prime Ministry press release, Tunisia’s comprehensive vision on development, the interdependence of social and economic balance, the need to take into consideration the weak and vulnerable groups and the foundations of the national economy within a participatory approach with all economic and social stakeholders.
They also discussed ways to reduce the negative repercussions on the Tunisian economy as a result of the war in Ukraine, especially with regard to food and energy security.
The prime minister pointed to a set of reforms undertaken by the government aimed at rebooting the economy, reforming public institutions, maintaining public financial balances, stimulating investment and creating jobs.
Besides, Bouden had a meeting with European Bank for Reconstruction and Development President Odile Renaud-Basso and her deputy on the prospects for financial cooperation with Tunisia, especially in financing major investment projects in the medium and long term.
It was agreed during the meeting to support the direct financial cooperation plan in the short term.
The Premier reviewed with Japan International Cooperation Agency President Tanaka Akihiko the fruitful cooperation between Tunisia and this agency since 1975, in several major projects and prospects for further boosting this cooperation in the foreseeable future in industrial development, economic infrastructure, regional development and water resources development fields, as well as fight against natural disasters and reinforcing public finances to cope with the hike in the global raw materials’ prices and the difficulties in distribution channels at the global level.
The PM invited Akihiko to attend the 8th session of the Tokyo International Conference on Development in Africa, to be hosted by Tunisia August 27-28, 2022, and which will offer the opportunity to foster bilateral cooperation relations and tripartite cooperation between Tunisia, Japan and Africa.
On the other hand, Najla Bouden had a talk with President of the First American Bank Jebbi Morgan on the challenges facing the global financial market and their impacts on the global economy, due to the overlapping crises and their repercussions on the major social and economic balances of most countries.
The Prime Minister invited on the occasion, Morgan to attend the next session of the Tunis Investment Forum, which will be held June 23-24, 2022.
Najla Bouden further discussed with Hereditary Prince and Regent of Liechtenstein Alois the state of relations between Tunisia and the Principality of Liechtenstein and ways to foster them in the economic, scientific, agricultural and artificial intelligence fields.
The Prime Minister also had during the 1st day of the Davos Economic Forum, talks with several senior officials, international and regional institutions and representatives of major international companies.
Bouden was received by the World Forum officials, led by Founder and Executive Chairman of the Forum Klaus Schwab.
The Prime Minister started her activity on the first day by participating in the first panel discussion: “Accelerating the Reskilling Revolution,” during which she highlighted Tunisia’s approach in this field and how to confront global challenges such as the COVID-19 pandemic, to ensure the continuity and development of education through electronic platforms.
Furthermore, Bouden had a meeting with Kuwaiti Foreign Minister Sheikh Ahmed Nasser Al-Mohammed Al-Ahmed Al-Jaber Al-Sabah during which they discussed several issues of mutual interest, notably bilateral cooperation in the fields of investment and adressing the financial challenges resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic and the war in Ukraine.
The two officials agreed to activate joint cooperation mechansims as soon as possible, especially the joint commission.
Source: TAP News Agency