EU pledges zero interest credits to Tunisia

The European Union Thursday said it was keen to offer credits to Tunisia with zero interest in a bid to help the economically struggling country to raise investments to meet its needs.

The EU envoy Marcus Cornaro made the pledge as he met with Prime Minister Hichem Mechichi.

Cornaro indicated that the union is also keen to defend the North African country with member countries through ambitious programs related to investment and employment.

Tunisia, Mechichi noted, is facing a difficult economic situation. The country’s timid rise from years of uncertainty that ensued the 2011 revolution, has been battered by the pandemic which took toll on the economy.

Measures to curb the spread of the pandemic have slowed down or halted some activities including tourism, which is the second biggest job provider in the country. Tunisia’s central bank forecasted a shrink in the economic growth due to the pandemic.