The Assembly of People’s Representatives (ARP) approved on Tuesday a bill authorizing the ratification of a loan agreement concluded on January 24, 2025 between Tunisia and the African Development Bank (BAD).
This financing, in the amount of 80 million euros (around 270 million dinars), is intended to support the third phase of the road infrastructure development program. The text was adopted by 102 votes for, against 9 oppositions and 2 abstentions.
Present during the debates, the Minister of Economy and Planning, Samir Abdelhafidh, said that the loan will be reimbursed over 24 years, accompanied by an 8 -year grace period. He insisted on the government’s desire to resort to external debt with discernment, by prioritizing structuring projects and by seeking advantageous financial conditions.
The Minister also emphasized the urgency to accelerate the execution of infrastructure projects in order to limit the additional costs due to delays.
As examples, he spoke of emblematic achievements funded by international loans, such as the Tunis – Médenine highway or the Radès and Bizerte bridges. These projects, he recalled, could not have emerged without recourse to external funding, the budgetary capacities of the State which do not allow them to be assumed alone.
While recognizing this reality, Samir Abdelhafidh reaffirmed the government’s commitment to strengthen self -financing mechanisms to gradually reduce dependence on international loans.
