Italy offers credit line to Tunisian SMEs

Italy is granting a credit line worth 143 million dinars (€73 million) to Tunisian and Italian small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) that have common projects in the industry, food and services sectors.

Italy is granting a credit line worth 143 million dinars (€73 million) to Tunisian and Italian small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) that have common projects in the industry, food and services sectors.

This scheme aims to support the Tunisian private sector, strengthen the role of SMEs in the creation of new jobs and support the creation of businesses in deprived areas, La Presse newspaper reports.

It could also help refinancing private companies' debts with banks.

This announcement follows the launch of a new World Bank Group facility to improve access to finance for micro, small and medium-sized enterprises in the Middle East and North Africa region (MENA).

Shamshad Akhtar, Vice-President for the MENA region at the World Bank, said that "a dynamic, open and growing MSME sector can create jobs and open up access to market opportunities at a rate that keeps pace with this growth".

SMEs in Tunisia are one of the most prominent aspects of the Tunisian economy. They represent 97 percent of the companies and are present in all sectors.

source: mfw4a.org