A number of Tunisian traders and workers are having difficulties entering Libyan territory to work, as Libyan authorities have been preventing them from doing so at the Ras Jedir border crossing on the Libyan side for the past two days, despite the fact that they have complied with all the legal procedures for departure and their safety, said Mustapha Abdelkebir, head of the Tunisian Observatory for Human Rights (OTDH). The Observatory condemned the ban and the resumption of taxes on travellers by the Libyan authorities, calling for a review of these decisions, which it described as unilateral, and the need to insist on the implementation of joint Tunisian-Libyan agreements and the principle of reciprocity. Abdelkebir called on the Tunisian authorities to take steps to find solutions to these problems and for the Joint Security Committees to meet urgently and intervene in favour of Tunisians travelling to Libya and to find urgent solutions for them and for all the problems of the crossing, including artific ial overcrowding. He said that the rights of travellers, especially freedom of movement, should not be compromised. He added that the number of people who have been stopped in the last two days exceeds dozens, despite the absence of any legal procedure to stop them on the grounds that they are undesirable. According to a security source, the Libyan authorities have begun to implement new procedures without providing further clarifications. Source: Agence Tunis Afrique Presse
Kasserine: Insaf Bkairi elected regional representative in council of third district
Insaf Bkairi, a member of the Kasserine Regional Council, has been elected to represent the region on the council of the third district, which includes the governorates of Siliana, Sousse, Kasserine, Kairouan, Monastir and Mahdia. The vote took place on Wednesday at the headquarters of the Independent Regional Authority for Elections (IRIE) in Kasserine, in the presence of all 13 members of the Kasserine governorate regional council, IRIE representatives and the media. The candidate, Insaf Bkairi, is 28 years old, disabled and has a degree in financial management. She received 7 votes, while her rival, Kamel Ghozleni, received only 6 votes. Bkairi told TAP that she was committed to defending the region's right to full development. Source: Agence Tunis Afrique Presse
Tunisia, France discuss cooperation in higher education field
Higher Education and Scientific Research Minister Moncef Boukthir and France's Ambassador in Tunis Anne Guéguen had a meeting on Tuesday during which they pointed to the need to foster cooperation between both countries in the higher education field. The main joint projects in the higher education field were also discussed, reads a ministry press release. The two officials commended in this regard, the level of Tunisian-French cooperation in scientific research field, which is characterised by numerous academic activities at the bilateral and multi-partite levels. Preparations for the High-Level Cooperation Council between Tunisia and France, due to be held this year in Paris, were also reviewed. Source: Agence Tunis Afrique Presse
New medical equipment for dialysis patients at Menzel Bourguiba local hospital
The Health Ministry on Tuesday took delivery of a batch of new medical equipment for dialysis patients at the Menzel Bourguiba local hospital in the Bizerte governorate. This batch is part of a cooperation project between Tunisia and the World Bank (WB). Speaking at the ceremony to hand over the equipment in the presence of WB Resident Representative in Tunisia Alexandre Arrobbio, Health Minister Ali Mrabet underlined that the fight against chronic diseases is a priority for his department, emphasising the need to ensure as far as possible that quality therapeutic services are provided and that patients suffering from chronic renal failure are offered the necessary support. He further underscored the importance of the cooperation programme with the World Bank, which, he said, has helped speed up the acquisition of modern medical equipment and appliances that will certainly boost the capacity of public dialysis centres and units. The WB representative reaffirmed his institution's commitment to further expa nd its cooperation and partnership with the Health Ministry, while working to diversify its intervention fields. Source: Agence Tunis Afrique Presse
Gabes regional council member Mohamed Kdiri elected to fifth district council
Gabes Regional Council member Mohamed El Kdiri has been elected to represent the governorate in the Fifth District Council, which includes the governorates of Kebili, Gabes, Medenine and Tataouine. The thirteen members of the Gabes Regional Council voted for Mohamed Kdiri, who was the only candidate to stand for the post. The election took place on Wednesday at the headquarters of the local Independent Electoral Commission (IRIE) in Gabes. Source: Agence Tunis Afrique Presse
Weather bit cloudy nationwide
The weather Wednesday is a bit cloudy nationwide. The wind is blowing west in the north and midland and south in the south, light to moderate to relatively strong at the end of the day in the gulf of Gabes. The sea is rough to choppy in the gulf of Gabes. Highs are ranging between 15°C and 21°C in the north and heights and between 21°C and 25°C elsewhere. Source: Agence Tunis Afrique Presse
CEPEX to organise Tunisian participation in 50th Tripoli International Fair
Tunisia will take part in the 50th edition of the Tripoli International Fair, to be hosted by Libya on May 15-21, 2024, said the Export Promotion Centre (CEPEX) which will organise Tunisia's participation in collaboration with Tripoli's office. This fair, one of the oldest trade events in Africa, offers the opportunity to meet international exhibitors mainly from Egypt, Algeria, France and Turkey, representing several sectors such as agri-food, manufacturing and extractive industries, building and public works, furniture, pharmaceuticals, crafts, services, etc. Tunisian companies seeking to participate in this fair can book their stands before March 21. Source: Agence Tunis Afrique Presse
Fight against financial exclusion: law will help improve Tunisians’ banking access (financial analyst)
The bill to combat financial exclusion will help increase the number of bank and postal accounts in Tunisia, financial analyst Bassem Ennaifer told TAP Wednesday. The bill, which is currently being reviewed by the parliamentary Finance and Budget Committee, is part of the economic reform programme announced by the government to boost the national economy and investment climate. The aim of the draft law is to develop the legal and institutional framework organising the sector, with a view to increasing the access of Tunisian to the banking system, particularly the poor, the low-income and people with disabilities. It also seeks to facilitate access to banking and financial services for small and micro enterprises. In its current form, the law has four main components: access to financial services and products; strengthening financial sector supervision; consumer protection in financial services and financial education; and rationalising the use of cash as a means of payment. Ennaifer said the bill will giv e a large segment of the population the opportunity to join the financial system at lower cost and will enable microfinance institutions to become more widespread, he added. "Thanks to this bill, individuals will no longer be required to show a work certificate to open a bank or post office account. If a bank or post office refuses, the state, through its various structures, will offer other alternatives to people who want to open an account. Support to microfinance institutions This draft law will enable micro-finance institutions to sell insurance policies under agreements signed with insurance companies and to offer banking and postal savings services, with the aim of bringing these services closer to the public. It will also ensure better protection for microfinance institutions by organising the entry and exit of new investors in the capital, particularly as regards the main investor, who will be subject to authorisation, he pointed out. In this respect, he said the number of Tunisians who received microcredits by 2023 will be 758,000. This project will also allow these institutions to access the Central Bank of Tunisia's database in order to better manage the risks involved in granting loans. According to the analyst, the new project will also improve access to insurance services, pointing out that the insurance penetration rate in Tunisia is currently less than 3%, despite the huge potential in this area. To make insurance services more widely available in Tunisia, it had been decided to give customers access to mobile insurance services via e-payment, besides authorizing microfinance institutions to market insurance policies, he pointed out. He added that the 'new bill will also facilitate the renewal of banknotes that are no longer in circulation by paying them directly into the holder's current account (bank or post office), whereas previously this could only be done at the Central Bank's counters. This measure will facilitate the implementation of the cash withdrawal strategy and help to reduce the volume of cash circulating outside the banking system". Source: Agence Tunis Afrique Presse
Tunindex closes Wednesday’s session slightly up (+0.08%)
The stock market Tunindex closed Wednesday's session with a slight gain of 0.08% to 8669.08 points. In the absence of block trades, trading was low over the session at TND 3.6 million, according to the stock market broker, Tunisie Valeurs. Electrostar shares rose by 4.5% to TND 0.700, in a flow of TND 6 thousand. Attijari Bank shares ended the day up 1.8% at TND 49.390. BNA shares were among the session's biggest losers. Drawing a flow of transactions of TND 86 thousand, the public bank's shares fell by 3% to TND 7.560. Euro-Cycles shares fell by 1.9% to TND 11.440, traded for TND 270 thousand. To date, the company's shares have underperformed the stock market by 28.3% over the year. Amen Bank shares topped the volume charts with TND 1.3 million. The private bank's share price remained almost stable at TND 35. Source: Agence Tunis Afrique Presse
EU to keep on supporting industry, energy sectors in Tunisia
Cooperation with the European Union and progress in implementing joint programmes took centre stage as Minister of Industry, Mines and Energy Fatma Thabet Chiboub had a talk Wednesday with European Union Ambassador to Tunisia, Marcus Cornaro. Emphasis was laid on the strong relations binding Tunisia and the European bloc - its strategic and historic partner, the ministry said. Relations are privileged in the industrial field, Fatma Thabet Chiboub and Cornaro said. This mainly covers the food industry, chemical industries, the electronics industry, textile and clothing, energy and renewables, etc. The two sides agreed to keep on working in concert, diversify areas of cooperation to draw investors and carry out green projects using environment-friendly and clean energy. The support lent by the European Investment Bank (EIB) to the Tunisian Company of Electricity and Gas (French: STEG) to upgrade performance and output, boost the national power distribution network and energy transition and efficiency progra mmes, in colalaboration with the National Energy Management Agency, was also discussed. The EU is Tunisia's privileged economic, trading, technical and financial partner. Source: Agence Tunis Afrique Presse