A $400 million dollars loan agreement (approximately 1200 MD with preferential conditions as well as a $100 million donation (approximately 300 MD) intended to support the State budget was signed, Thursday, between Tunisia and Saudi Arabia.

The agreement was co-signed, at the Prime Ministry, by Finance Minister Sihem Namsia and her Saudi counterpart Mohammed Al-Jadaan in the presence of Prime Minister Najla Bouden.

Speaking to reporters, on the sidelines of the signing ceremony, Saudi Arabia's ambassador in Tunis Abdul Aziz Bin Al-Saqr underlined that "the agreement is meant to support the Tunisian economy", adding that "KSA's financial support to Tunisia exceeds $2.2 billion dollars and covers several areas including energy, health, agriculture...".

The Ambassador also recalled his country's $500 million loan to Tunisia in 2019, saying that Saudi Arabia's support to Tunisia will continue with the aim of consolidating bilateral relations.

Namsia pointed out that "the signing of this agreement is part of fostering bilateral ties and long-standing cooperation between the two countries,» stressing that this funding will be used to support the State budget.

The Saudi minister considered that this agreement testifies to the solidity of the relations between the two countries and the efforts made by Saudi Arabia to support the revival of the Tunisian economy.

He reiterated that the loan and the premium granted to Tunisia under this agreement will also serve to open new financing channels for Tunisia with other Arab and foreign countries as well as regional and international financial institutions.

He pointed out that the value of overall Saudi financing granted to Tunisia reached $2.2 billion dedicated to 49 projects.

Source: Agence Tunis Afrique Presse