Tunisia presented a three-year program to build 150 thousand social and low-cost housing units dedicated to disadvantaged families and categories.
Mr. Riadh Bettaieb, Minister of Investment and International Cooperation presented this program, at a talk with Director General of the Abu Dhabi Fund for Economic Development (ADFD). Mr. Seif Al Suwaidi, ADFD Director General is paying a visit to Tunisia February 13-15, heading a delegation of representatives of ADFD, the UAE Foreign Ministry, the “Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan” Charity Foundation and the UAE Red Crescent.
During the meeting, Mr. Bettaieb gave an overview of projects that could be financed by the Fund or by UAE charities. They involve, in particular, building of drinking water facilities, dams and sea water desalination stations, in addition to integrated agricultural programs, infrastructure projects (highways, extension of some ports) and creation, in Sfax, of hospital specializing in cancer care.
He also reviewed opportunities for the participation of UAE humanitarian associations in efforts made to equip hospitals of inland regions. The ADFD official expressed the Fund’s will to contribute to financing development projects in Tunisia by providing easy terms credits. “Because we are aware of the challenges faced by Tunisia, we are willing to apply the appropriate interest rates,” he specified. Regarding the cancellation of the Tunisian debt owed to the Fund, the official said this issue is not on the agenda now, reminding that Tunisia, which is well rated by the Fund, has always met its commitments towards this structure.
Tunisia has signed 11 financing projects worth 200 million dinars, since the start of its cooperation with ADFD in 1974. These projects involve, in particular, the realization of irrigation perimeters in Oued Erremel dam (11 million dinars), 20 mountain dams with a budget of 31 million dinars and the project of Serra dam and the irrigation of Awled Boughanim and Mahjoub plains (19 million dinars).
