European loan for Tunisia of 83.1 million euros

The European Union's commissariat in Cairo said that the European Investment Bank will lend Tunisia 83.1 million euros to finance projects for developing the public and private sectors in the framework of European support for a program to develop the Tunisian economy.

Part of the EUR 53.1 million is to finance projects to develop the basic infrastructure in southern Tunisia, while the second part, worth EUR 30 million, is for financing medium-sized and small projects run by the Banque de DÈveloppement …conomique de la Tunisie (BDET), Banque de Tunisie, Société de Participation et de Promotion des Investissements (SPPI), the TUNINVEST Group, COTIF sicar and SIDCO sicar.

"This EIB operation supports the Tunisian authorities' efforts to promote the development of a more open economy and is designed mainly to assist companies in preparing for market liberalization with a view to progressive establishment of a free trade area with the European Union," a European Investment Bank release said.