Tunis: The status of Authorised Economic Operator (AEO) has been granted, Friday, to 13 new Tunisian companies, bringing the total number of companies enjoying this status to 165, said official in charge of supervision at the Directorate General of Customs Mongi Bellara. Speaking at an information day held on Friday in Tunis, he explained that these companies (fully exporting, industrial, start-up and international trade) operate in various sectors. The AEO is actually a status granted to any company established in Tunisia, carrying out an activity related to foreign trade, having the confidence of the customs administration and meeting the required conditions. Companies with AEO status will enjoy streamlined customs clearance procedures (DAE, dispatch notes, etc.) and new privileges related to technical inspection procedures for imports and exports, he underlined. Bellara also pointed out that this measure is in line with the Customs Department's policy of encouraging investors, offering facilities and s treamlining customs procedures. The goal is to help reboot the national economy and consolidate the competitiveness of Tunisian companies. Vice-President of the Tunisian Confederation of Industry, Trade and Handicrafts (UTICA) Hamadi Kooli said that the number of companies with AEO status since 2010 "is still low," accounting for only 3% of the total number of Tunisian companies. "Our ambitions are to achieve a membership rate of about 10% of the total number of Tunisian companies and to increase export sales," he indicated. Source: Agence Tunis Afrique Presse
EU Ambassador reaffirms commitment to continue supporting Tunisia’s reform programmes
Tunis: European Union Ambassador to Tunisia, Marcus Cornaro, reaffirmed the Union's commitment to continue supporting Tunisia in the implementation of its reform programmes and priority development projects, particularly in areas of mutual interest. The Ambassador was speaking during a meeting with Minister of Economy and Planning, Feryel Ouerghi Sebai, on Friday afternoon. These projects include food security, investment, employment, digitalisation, research, innovation, support for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and social protection, according to a press release from the ministry. For her part, Minister Sebai outlined the key areas of focus for the coming period, which fall within the government's development priorities. These include renewable energy, addressing the impact of climate change, particularly on food security and water resources management, improving the business and investment climate and reforming public institutions, as well as areas related to human development and social pro gress. The Minister expressed satisfaction with the progress of cooperation at all levels, especially in the financial and technical fields, and looked forward to further strengthening and diversifying it in the next phase in the interest of both parties. The meeting also reviewed the progress of cooperation in the current period and the work programmes for the next phase, as both sides stressed the exceptional nature of the relations between Tunisia and the European Union and the importance of the strategic partnership binding them. Source: Agence Tunis Afrique Presse
Tunisia’s officially joins Budapest Convention on Cybercrime
Tunis: Tunisia officially joined, on Friday, the Budapest Convention, bringing the number of signatory states to 70, the Ministry of Communication technologies. Consul General of Tunisia in Strasbourg, Badreddine Jalidi, submitted Tunisia's accession document to this Convention in the presence of Deputy Secretary General of the Council of Europe, Bjorn Berge, reads a press release of the Council of Europe. The Ministry specified that Tunisia's accession to this Convention is part of national efforts and close coordination between the ministries of Communication Technologies, Foreign Affairs, interior and justice as well as state structures to combat crimes linked to information and communication systems as well as to protect the national cyberspace and users of information and communication technologies against cyber attacks. The Ministry said that the Basic Law approving Tunisia's accession to the Budapest Convention adopted on November 23, 2001 was published in the Official Gazette on February 6, 2024, a fter being adopted by the Assembly of People's Representatives during a plenary session on the same day. Tunisia's accession to this Convention seeks to consolidate international efforts in the fight against cybercrime as well as protect the rights of people and victims of cybercrime. The Convention will help national structures combat crimes related to information and communication systems and benefit from the expertise, training and legal procedures approved by the Treaty, in particular with regard to the exchange of information between member countries. Source: Agence Tunis Afrique Presse
Tunisia/UNDP: Implementing the national energy strategy by 2035
TUNIS: The national energy strategy for 2035 and the roadmap for its implementation were the focus of a meeting held on Friday in Tunis between Minister of Industry, Mines and Energy, Fatma Thabet Chiboub and UNDP Resident Representative, Céline Moyroud. During the meeting, which was also attended by the Secretary of State for Energy Transition, Ouael Chouchane, the two parties reviewed cooperation between the ministry's departments and the UNDP, particularly in the energy and renewable energy sectors. They stressed the need for joint action to implement energy transition and energy efficiency programmes, promote investment in renewable energy and reduce the impact of climate change. The Minister and the UN official also discussed the programme's technical support to the National Energy Management Agency to strengthen the project for energy-efficient lighting in homes and the production of "bio-gas", the reduction of energy consumption costs for heating and air conditioning, and support for industrial comp anies to help them reduce carbon emissions. They also tackled ways of working together to combat fuel poverty among vulnerable social groups. Source: Agence Tunis Afrique Presse
CEOs of three state-owned companies dismissed
Three CEOs of state-owned companies under the Ministry of Industry, Mines and Energy have been relieved of their duties by decrees published in the Official Gazette of the Tunisian Republic (JORT). They are CEO of the Tunisian Drilling Company Labid Ghodbani (Decree No. 2024-136 dated March 5, 2024), CEO of the National Cellulose and Esparto Paper Company Mohamed Boughdiri (Decree No. 2024-137 dated March 5, 2024), and CEO of Djebel Djerissa Company Moujahed Nejib Smaali (Decree No. 2024-138 dated March 5, 2024). Source: Agence Tunis Afrique Presse
Minister of Industry, Energy and Mines discuss bilateral projects, investment with Japan’s ambassador
Tunis: Japan's Ambassador to Tunisia, Takeshi Osuga, stressed his country's keenness to support Tunisia's economic development and work to attract new investment to the country within the framework of existing cooperation programmes such as the "Kaizen" programme, which has benefited 100 industrial companies. During a meeting with the Minister of Industry, Mines and Energy, Fatma Thabet Chiboub, at the Ministry's headquarters on Friday, Osuga reviewed the projects implemented in Tunisia, including the Tunisian unit of the Japanese Saraya Natural Products complex in the El Fejja Technopark1. He stressed the importance of the industrial unit specialising in the manufacture of airbags in the governorate of Ben Arous, the unit operating in the textile and clothing sector in the Monastir Technopark and the Rades C combined cycle power plant, according to a statement issued by the Ministry of Industry. Fatma Chiboub spoke about the implementation of the new 67-million-dinar pilot wastewater treatment unit for th e Tunisian chemical complex and the importance of benefiting from Japanese expertise in this field. She stressed the importance of friendly relations and fruitful economic cooperation with the Japanese side, which has developed in recent years through the launch of several joint projects. She spoke about the government's keenness to create a favourable climate for attracting foreign investments and large projects by simplifying procedures, digitalising administration and improving industrial, technological and energy infrastructure. Source: Agence Tunis Afrique Presse
EU Prize for Literature 2024: ‘Jebel El Milh’ by Tunisian author Arbia Braham among nominees
Tunis: The book "Jebel El Milh" by Tunisian author Arbia Braham is one of the 13 nominees for the 2024 European Union Prize for Literature (EUPL). This work in Arabic was published by Editions arabesques in 2023. It is one of thirteen titles nominated for the 2024 EUPL, which includes other authors from twelve countries, including Albania, Bulgaria, Denmark, Germany, Hungary, Iceland, Latvia, Malta, the Netherlands, Portugal, Serbia and Slovenia. The annual prize is dedicated to contemporary fiction from Europe and beyond. Since 2009, it has rewarded the works of emerging writers from member countries of the European Union's (EU) Creative Europe programme. Since July 2017, Tunisia has been a member of Europe Creative, a European programme aimed at promoting the cultural and media sectors. The EUPL is co-organised by the Federation of European Publishers (FEE) and the European and International Booksellers Federation (EIBF). The judges for the 2024 edition are Andreï Kourkov, Elena Loewenthal, Kostas Spat harakis, Daniel Medin, Aurélie Bontout Roche, Raluca Selejan and Tauno Vahter. The winner will be announced at the Brussels Book Fair in Belgium on 4 April. Five commendations will also be awarded. Source: Agence Tunis Afrique Presse
Séno: Several dozen terrorists neutralized on March 8
Ouagadougou: Several dozen terrorists were neutralized this Friday in strikes by the Burkinabè army in Touka, in the Dori (Séno) area, AIB learned from security sources who are reporting other victories in the area of Barsalgho (north-center) and the Nouaho forest (east-center). This week, the Fighting Forces continued to reconquer territories and repelled several terrorist assaults across the territory. Thus on March 8, 2024, several dozen terrorists gathered around 4 pm in Touka in the Dori area where under trees, they plotted an attack. The air carriers took the lead, launching a missile at the criminals. While the maximum was burning, some fugitives collapsed a few meters away. Also on this day, dedicated to women, the Burkinabè army has increased its offensives so that IDPs, the majority of whom are women, can return to their homes. Thus, around 6 pm, radars spotted around a hundred assassins in the Center-North heading towards Wambsouya, about twenty km north of Barsalgho. They will be joined in an orchard by several other criminals on motorcycles to launch an imminent attack. These criminals will be cooked first because the pilots will launch a particularly powerful missile into the crowd. In just a quarter of an hour, several terrorists will be consumed in a blazing fire caused by explosions from their ammunition. Earlier, on March 5, 2024, in the East Central zone, other hordes of terrorists were wiped out. Indeed that day around 6 pm, assassins on motorcycles left Welguemsifou towards the Nouaho forest to join a larger group stationed under the trees. Their attack planning meeting is cut short when a powerful missile splits the sky and falls on them. The criminals and their logistical means were reduced to ashes. Source: Burkina Information Agency
Burkina: President Traoré will provide the government with electric cars to save money
Tenkodogo: President Ibrahim Traoré announced the creation by the end of 2024 of an electric car production plant and the replacement of all government vehicles, in order to save fuel. 'We are going to set up an electric vehicle production factory. Normally before the end of 2024, this factory should be ready. The government's fuel consumption is enormous. So, we are going to change all government vehicles with electric cars to save fuel,' announced Ibrahim Traoré. The president addressed the Forces de Vives of the Center-East on Friday, on the occasion of March 8. Another announcement made by the Burkinabè Head of State is the recreation of the ONBAH (National Office of Dams and Hydro-Agricultural Developments), which has disappeared, according to him, due to the structural adjustment programs (PAS) and the awakening of SONATER ( National Society for Land Development and Rural Equipment) in order to have agricultural equipment and engineers. 'A lot of people won't be happy because it's their market. They will say that the State wants to do the work of the construction industry. But if we have to wait for everyone's moods to create a certain number of roadblocks, it won't work. We have no choice, we have to move quickly and well,' said Ibrahim Traoré. Source: Burkina Information Agency
Burkina: Ibrahim Traoré announces a reduction in diplomatic staff and budget cuts for the benefit of students
Ouagadougou: The President of the Transition, Captain Ibrahim Traoré, announced the reduction of Burkina Faso's diplomatic staff abroad and the readjustment of the budgets of certain ministries in order to create infrastructure for the benefit students. The President of the Transition, Captain Ibrahim Traoré, intends to reduce the number of staff in Burkina Faso embassies abroad in order to reuse the money that should be used to support them in the construction of infrastructure for the benefit of students. 'We have a lot of people in diplomatic missions, we pay a lot of billions. These billions will be spent on building lecture halls for students,' he said. Likewise, budget cuts will be made in ministries, always for the benefit of students. 'I informed the various ministries that we are going to cut budgets to build lecture theaters and classrooms for students. Everything that is cut in the ministries will go to the students,' he explained. The president of the transition, who spoke on the occasion of the celebration of March 8, 2024, also announced other measures in several sectors. Source: Burkina Information Agency