Day: February 22, 2024

A workshop on the intervention modalities of the Energy Transition Fund was organised on Wednesday in Sfax at the initiative of the National Agency for Energy Conservation (ANME). The workshop is part of a set of regional meetings to introduce the Fund's initiatives and encourage Tunisian companies to join the energy transition process to better manage energy at the national level, Energy Efficency Expert Abdelhamid Ganouni told TAP. The Tunisian State has set itself ambitious energy targets up to 2035, aimed primarily at covering 35% of national needs with renewables, cutting energy demand by 34% and reducing carbon density to 45%, he said. These goals cannot be achieved without the coordinated efforts of all stakeholders, he pointed out, recalling that any energy-related project has the opportunity to benefit from the Fund's interventions. Source: Agence Tunis Afrique Presse

The International Organisation for Migration (IOM) and the Ministry of Employment and Vocational Training announced that the deadline for the applications to the call of projects for the Phase 2 of the Mobi-TRE project "Hajti bik" has been extended to March 31, 2024. The project is aimed to implement joint projects between promoters in Tunisia and Tunisians living abroad (Germany, France, Côte d'Ivoire and Saudi Arabia) in a bid to select 30 projects in regional development zones. Promoters wishing to access funding under this project should apply on https://www.moubader.tn/ platform. the "Mobi-TRE" project Phase 2 "Migration as a resource: mobilising the Tunisian diaspora and stabilising disadvantaged communities in Tunisia." The project is funded by the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation (AICS) and implemented by IOM, in close collaboration with the Ministry of Vocational Training and Employment as well as institutional partners and authorities in Tunisia at national and regional levels. The Ha jti Bik component of this project aims to mobilize innovative initiatives contributing to Tunisia's economic development, with particular emphasis on regions with high migration potential. This Call for Projects focuses on promoting the effective realization of a Matching between a Tunisian entrepreneur and a Tunisian investor Resident Abroad (TRE). It aims to create sustainable jobs, reduce poverty, and promote the link between migration and development. Source: Agence Tunis Afrique Presse

We are not asking for the impossible," UGTT's Nourredine Tabboubi Thursday said in comments on next March 2 worker rally in El Kasbah Square. "We demand social dialogue be launched as it a sign of the development of societies," the SG of the Tunisian General Labour Union further told TAP on the sidelines of the opening works of the conference of the women and working youth committees of the Arab Federation of Petroleum, Mining and Chemical Workers in hammamet. "We demand the trade union right be respected for it is a red line that cannot be crossed," he added. "We are aware the country is going through an economic crisis; the labour union is always accused of suspending production through strikes, thus the move to opt for a day off (Saturday) to stage a protest to demand the launch of a social dialogue," said Tabboubi. The SG said it is necessary to boost investment by means of fostering an entrepreneurial climate. "We are speaking about democracy at a time when Tunisians endure a declining purchase powe r and the shortage of commodities, the SG said. The low voter turnout rate is a key indicator which the power in place did not understand. Source: Agence Tunis Afrique Presse

The implementation of a national strategy to support entrepreneurs is now a priority, Minister of Employment and Vocational Training Lotfi Dhieb stressed on Thursday. Speaking at the opening of an interregional conference organised by the National Agency for Employment and Self-Employment (ANETI) on "Public Employment Services and Entrepreneurship: a challenge for inclusive and sustainable economic development", the minister stressed that a number of areas have been identified to support the social and solidarity economy over the period 2024-2026, including digitisation, supporting and amending the legal framework, and strengthening communication with entrepreneurs. The minister also pointed out that the conference aims to map out an equitable and inclusive economic model that develops the entrepreneurial skills of young people. A budget of 40 million dinars has been earmarked to finance projects in the social and solidarity economy, he pointed out. Dhieb acknowledged that the promotion of private entrepre neurship requires the simplification of administrative procedures and the guarantee of support for entrepreneurs to ensure the success of their projects, which in turn will contribute to economic growth and the reduction of unemployment (16% according to the latest report of the National Institute of Statistics). Ferihane Korbi Boussoffara, Executive Director of ANETI, said one of the aims of this interregional conference was to share experiences between 16 countries facing the same employment problems as Tunisia. She emphasised the importance of good monitoring to ensure the sustainability of the project. Many young people encounter numerous obstacles after the creation of their projects, linked in particular to the challenges of the market, marketing and the weakness of the management of financial resources, she added, stressing the role of the Agency in presenting the necessary consultations in this sense. For his part, Mohsen Ben Touati, Head of the General Directorate for Entrepreneurship at the Mini stry of Employment, stressed that the field of entrepreneurship faces challenges related to access to finance, supervision and support, noting that Tunisia has programmes aimed at reducing the difficulties faced by young entrepreneurs. Source: Agence Tunis Afrique Presse

The eight defendants arrested following the breakups which took place during the march on January 29, 2024, received suspended sentences and were released with the benefit of the doubt. At the end of the trial of the eight alleged culprits prosecuted for organizing an illicit demonstration, armed gatherings and acts of vandalism caused during the march of January 29, 2024, held at the Ouahigouya High Court, on Wednesday February 21, 2024, the President of the Court requested a 36-month suspended sentence for one defendant, 24 months for 4 and the three others were acquitted for the benefit of the doubt. Started around 8:30 a.m., the trial of the march of January 29, 2024 in Ouahigouya delivered its verdict. Only one defendant received a suspended sentence of 36 months with a fine of 2 million CFA francs firm to pay, four others were sentenced to 24 months suspended with a million CFA francs firm each must pay and the three others were acquitted for the benefit of the doubt. They are Abdoul Aziz Ouédraogo (member of the youth movement committed to the liberation of the North), Souleymane Sawadogo and Issouf Ouédraogo. They were accused of having organized an illicit demonstration, causing armed gatherings and acts of vandalism during the march on January 29, 2024. Which march caused ransacking of public property at the regional branch of Rtb2 North, the palace of the king of Yatenga, Naaba Kiiba, the 12 commando infantry regiment (RIC) and the gendarmerie company. On the stand this February 21, 2024, in a room full of people, the eight defendants appeared to defend themselves. All have pleaded not guilty. Among them, four defendants, namely the vice-president, the organization officer, the communications and information officer and a member come from the Youth Movement Engaged for the Liberation of the North. According to their version of the facts, everything was part of the association of young traders from the Ouahigouya market. 'During a citizen's watch night at the Place de la Nation, we were approac hed to organize a meeting in support of the transition. I therefore informed my president who lives in Ouagadougou. We therefore held a meeting but ultimately the association of young traders withdrew because its president said he had not been informed of the approach. But, we had already informed the population of this meeting through Watsapp groups, the town crier and other channels. », indicated the alleged culprit, the vice-president of the movement. And to continue that on January 28 was the day before the march, all members of civil society organizations were received by the governor of the region in order to postpone the march. 'Back from this meeting, we sent voice messages and made a live video posted on our Facebook page informing the population of the cancellation of the meeting. That same evening, I received threats of violence against me that money had been received from the governor. This is what justifies its cancellation so they will come after us. I informed the rest of the group and asked them to take shelter. This is how me and the communications officer took refuge in Baporé, a neighboring village,' he confirmed. It was only afterwards that they learned that a march took place in Ouahigouya causing damage, according to him. The committed youth movement author of the march Why not use the same information channels to inform the population of the cancellation of the meeting? asked the prosecution. The defendant, responsible for communications, explained that there was little time to call a town crier. 'Our meeting with the governor ended around 6 p.m. So it was difficult to do it,' he replied. Did you have authorization to organize the meeting? asked the prosecutor. And the defendant, vice-president, replied that he did not know that we should have authorization before organizing a meeting. 'We have already organized a meeting but I did not know that authorization was required,' he added. The president of the court explained to him that the city, the country is governed by national, tra ditional, religious laws. 'If there is freedom to come and go, it is because these laws are respected,' said the president. The victims, namely RTB2 North, Naaba Kiiba, the 12th RIC and the gendarmerie company, the judicial agent, Marou Ilboudo request that reparation be made. To do this, he estimated the damages for RTB2 at 4,644,450 FCFA, for the RIC at 2,000,050 FCFA. The king of Yatenga refused to file a civil suit and refused any compensation. Source: Burkina Information Agency This conference is an opportunity to discuss concrete formulas to help the Palestinian people in Gaza in their struggle against the Zionist Entity," said SG of the Tunisian General Labour Union (French: UGTT) Nourredine Tabboubi as he attended Thursday the conference of the women and working youth committees of the Arab Federation of Petroleum, Mining and Chemical Workers in Hammamet. It is also expected to enhance Arab energy solidarity, he further told TAP on the sidelines of an opening session of the two-day gathering. The organisation of the event in Tunisia demonstrates anew the position of the country and the labour union, he added. The UGTT has always pushed for energy solidarity in a bid to ensure self-sufficiency in Arab countries. An active, effective and militant trade union can create new dynamics in bringing views closer together, fostering a climate of Arab cooperation for the interest of Arab peoples and producing a unified Arab stance on a set of issues, mainly the Palestinian cause. SG o f the Arab Federation of Petroleum, Mining and Chemical Workers Imad Hamdi said the conference of youth and women is placed under the solgan "Supporting Palestine" to reaffirm the Arab Federation's solidarity with Palestinians as they endure the barbaric attacks of the Zionist entity. The Arab Federation's Executive Council will hold its forthcoming meeting in Egypt to provide moral and material support to Palestinians. The Federation will also seek to scale up coopeeration in energy as a tool to exert political and economic pressure and achieve prosperity for Arab countries, he added. SG of the General Union of Petroleum and Chemicals Salouane Smiri said the sector of energy is of strategic importance in Tunisia and can help chart a way out of the crisis if efforts are pooled and a social dialogue is set in motion between stakerholders and authorities. Source: Agence Tunis Afrique Presse