Economist, academic and former minister Elyes Jouini said Tunisia has no alternative today, that to ask for support from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and reach an agreement with it.
Speaking at a webinar held Friday evening, on the theme “Tunisia-IMF: Between lessons of the past and future prospects,” he said it is essential currently to take painful decisions and measures.
“It is imperative to act quickly and have the will and boldness to take appropriate measures without fear of losing popular support,” he pointed out.
The former minister also indicated that all stakeholders, including the Presidency of the Republic, the Prime Ministry and social partners must work together within consensus, in the next stage.
There is need to “to develop a reform program based on identified priorities of the country, not on an agenda of unattainable reforms”
Jouini added that Tunisia must repay considerable sums of foreign currency in the coming years, under repayment of its foreign debts, it is therefore necessary to receive financial support, especially since the situation continues to complicate day by day.”
Sealing an agreement with the IMF, «will allow us not only to secure the necessary funding, but also to ease the pressure on the financial market in general,” he said.
For his part, economist, Fethi Nouri recalled the position of the IMF on the issue of subsidy in Tunisia, saying that the Fund is not in favor of subsidy of hydrocarbons for environmental considerations.
He stressed that enhancing energy efficiency is likely to strengthen the position of Tunisia in its negotiations with the IMF, calling on the Tunisian side to review its negotiating policy.
The solution is both political and economic and the President of the Republic and the Prime Minister are called to redouble their efforts to save the country, Nouri pointed out.
For his part, economist and former minister, Taoufik Rajhi stressed the importance of a budgetary adjustment, a reform of monetary policy, a reduction in the wage bill and the reform of state enterprises.
But beyond budgetary considerations, efforts must be made to improve the business climate and promote investment to get the country out of its structural crisis which has been aggravated by the delay in carrying out reforms and the coronavirus pandemic,» he further said.
