President Ben Ali confers with Prime Minister
Tunis, November 21, 2008- President Ben Ali conferred on Friday with the Prime Minister, Mr Mohamed Ghannouchi. During the meeting, the Head of State signed a decree increasing from 10 to 20% the advance payment relative to public markets given to small and medium enterprises, in implementation of the decision announced on November 7.
The President of the Republic was also handed a report on the high- level Tunisian-Spanish commission held on Thursday in Madrid.
He expressed his satisfaction as to the dynamism witnessed by relations between the two friendly countries and recommended to ensure the follow up of the recommendations made during this meeting so as to boost bilateral cooperation and intensify partnership projects.
The Head of State also focused on the last meeting of the follow up committee on the latest financial and economic crisis.
Along these lines, he issued instructions to devote a finance line in foreign currency to an extent of 100 million Euros to non-resident enterprises so as to enable them to obtain funding from the banking sector in Tunisian dinars, in order to acquire equipments made in Tunisia, with the aim of strengthening support to exporting industries so that they can face the requirements of the current stage.
The President of the Republic also took cognizance of the results of the investment conference held in Gafsa last week, following which banks and investment companies approved the financing of 62 projects at a total cost of 160 million dinars enabling the creation of 4000 jobs. He recommended to follow up on these results and to pursue the organisation of such events throughout the different regions of the country.
On the other hand, the Head of State entrusted the Prime Minister to present the government’s declaration concerning the economic balance and the draft State budget for 2009, before the Chamber of Deputies and the Chamber of Advisors.
