Contacts:
In Washington
Najat Yamouri 1 (202) 458 13 40
nyamouri@worldbank.org
In Tunis
Donia Jemail (216) 71 10 35 37
djemail@worldbank.org
Tunis, January, 27 2009 – “Tunisia’s successful management of its economy and its strong performance as regards human development have positioned the country well to respond to the current international financial crisis and the global down-turn” said Dr. Juan José Daboub, Managing Director of the World Bank, at the end of his visit to Tunisia.
Dr. Daboub met with the Prime Minister, Mr. Mohamed Ghannouchi, the Minister of Finance, Mr. Mohamed Kechiche and the Minister of Development and International Cooperation, Mr. Mohamed Jouini. Their discussions focused on Tunisia’s development prospects in the current global environment and the measures that the Government is adopting to sustain macro-economic stability, growth and employment.
Dr. Daboub’s visit presented an occasion to discuss the strong partnership between Tunisia and the World Bank and future areas of collaboration. “The World Bank believes that the Tunisian government is undertaking an appropriate series of measures to respond to the difficult global environment. We reiterate our support to these efforts, in particular through the Integration and Competitiveness Development Policy Program which is currently being finalized and focuses on trade integration, private sector development and financial sector reforms”. He added that the World Bank Group and the Government of Tunisia are currently preparing a new Country Partnership Strategy which will lay out in more detail the specific areas of future collaboration.
Dr. Daboub met with private sector actors, civil society representatives and other development partners such as the African Development Bank. He visited the El Ghazela Techno Park and the Bardo museum, both of which are being supported by World Bank-financed projects. He also visited small and medium enterprises which are being supported by ENDA Inter-Arab, a micro finance institution that has benefited from the support of the International Finance Corporation (IFC), the World Bank’s private sector arm. These meetings and visits allowed Dr. Daboub to understand better the Tunisian context and appreciate in particular the challenge of addressing unemployment. “The World Bank agrees that creating jobs is the top priority for the country and that a comprehensive approach is needed integrating greater productivity and competitiveness, private sector development, and other sectoral reforms,” said Dr. Daboub.
In his meetings, Dr. Daboub congratulated the Tunisia government and private sector on their commitment to pursuing greater regional and trade integration in the Maghreb. “Their efforts towards greater integration in the Maghreb region and beyond are critical for stronger growth and development of a small open economy such as Tunisia”, said Dr. Daboub, “and the World Bank Group stands ready to support these efforts on a national and regional level”.
Dr. Daboub is the managing director responsible for the World Bank’s operations in 74 countries (in Latin America and the Caribbean, East Asia and the Pacific, and the Middle East and North Africa). Before joining the Bank in 2006, he served concurrently as El Salvador’s Minister of Finance and Chief of Staff to the President. He also oversaw the reconstruction of El Salvador after two earthquakes in 2001.
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