Tunis: Consolidating the social role of the State, developing strategic sectors notably agriculture, strengthening fiscal justice, and simplifying administrative services through full digitalization are the priorities underpinning the 2026 draft economic budget, the draft Finance bill, and the State Budget, Prime Minister Sarra Zaafrani Zenzri pointed out. Speaking during a joint plenary session of the Assembly of People's Representatives (ARP) and the National Council of Regions and Districts (CNRD), convened to present and examine the 2026 draft Finance bill and the economic budget, the Prime Minister said that 2026 carries particular significance as the first year of implementation of the 2026-2030 Development Plan.
According to Agence Tunis Afrique Presse, Zaafrani Zenzri explained that the first priority axis, regarding the reinforcement of the State's social role, focuses on reducing unemployment, adjusting salaries in both the public and private sectors, boosting economic and financial inclusion, supporting collective initiatives, and strengthening social security systems and State interventions in key priority sectors, notably health, housing, transport, and education.
The second axis, regarding the strategic policy choices, prioritizes the development of the agricultural sector to guarantee food security, which is considered an integral component of national security. In this connection, particular attention will be given to supporting small-scale farmers through the creation of a dedicated financing mechanism. Among the other strategic sectors identified is the energy sector, which constitutes a main pillar of national security. Efforts will therefore focus on supporting the energy and environmental transition and reducing all forms of pollution.
The third axis concerns fiscal justice and includes the expansion of the scope of the wealth tax through the adoption of a progressive taxation system. The fourth axis relates to the simplification of administrative services through the restructuring and full digitalization of the public administration as part of efforts to combat corruption, monopolies, smuggling, and tax evasion.
The PM underlined that controlling prices and preserving the citizens' purchasing power remain absolute priorities. "Although positive results have been recorded - notably the regular supply of basic products to the market and a decline in the inflation rate, the general level of prices remains high," she said. Efforts will therefore continue to dismantle all speculation and monopoly networks by intensifying monitoring operations at different stages of production and distribution. The digitalization of distribution circuits will enable stronger oversight of prices and quality throughout the year, the premier stressed.
The Prime Minister stated that the State aims to achieve real economic growth of 3.3% in 2026, compared to 2.6% expected for the full year 2025, a level that would allow individual income to rise by 7.4% in 2026. The government also seeks to increase overall investment by 12% at current prices in 2026, reaching the equivalent of 16% of GDP.
"These projections are based on the improvement of public and private investment, the planning of new projects based on proposals from local councils, the revision of the legal and institutional investment framework, the improvement of the business climate, and the implementation of the national strategy for the promotion of small and medium-sized enterprises and support for private businesses," Zaafrani Zenzri indicated. Efforts will also continue to reduce the trade deficit to 3.6% of GDP in 2026 by stepping up export efforts, diversifying external markets, protecting the national economy through the rationalization of imports, and activating all necessary mechanisms to achieve this objective, she added.