Prime Minister Elyes Farkhfakh says Tunisia needs 5 billion euros

Tunis, May 4, 2020. FETHI BELAID / AFP

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Tunis needs 5 billion euros to complete its budget this year. A figure revealed to France 24 by the Tunisian Prime Minister, Elyes Fakhfakh. Tunis, which already received emergency aid of $ 745 million last month from the IMF, is in negotiations with its partners to collect this sum. The country is suffering the full brunt of the economic consequences of planetary confinement.

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About a third of the Tunisian budget will depend this year on external funding, according to figures announced by the Tunisian Prime Minister.

Tunis was counting at the start of the year on an external contribution of 2.5 billion euros. But it had to double this forecast due to the shutdown of its economy due to the pandemic. Prime Minister Elyes Farkhfakh is therefore trying to convince his country's partners to help him: "  We are seeing what the sources of internal funding are, either internationally and so far, we are with our partners, whether international or bilateral financial institutions, we are in direct contact to see what is possible with a clear vision and I hope that this will clarify things all over the world  ”.

Very dependent on the European economic situation, Tunisia will experience this year a major recession, perhaps even the most serious since its independence, predict experts. With sectors like tourism completely damaged and an unemployment rate that exceeds 15%.

►Read also:  In Tunisia, the coronavirus epidemic is hitting the tourism sector head on

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