Tunisian Tourism Minister Moez Belhossein revealed that the Tunisian economy will be directly affected by the Russian-Ukrainian war, which will have direct and indirect repercussions on tourism in the country, which is one of the most important sources of income, noting that the government is expected to form a crisis cell to discuss the repercussions of the matter. .
In this context, experts and observers expected that the Tunisian economy would be relatively affected by the crisis in Ukraine, for reasons related to tourism, high oil and mineral prices, as well as currency tensions, as well as due to the country’s dependence on about 60 percent of wheat imported from Russia.
Economist Hassan Bali warned of the potential effects on the Tunisian economy during the coming period, which would deepen the economic crisis and extend its life, noting that the Tunisian government has a set of priorities that it must start implementing urgently to address the deteriorating economic situation in the country.
Bali said, in a statement to “Sky News Arabia”, that the rise in oil prices globally will directly affect the Tunisian economy, especially that the rate of fuel consumption in the country is high, explaining that the government’s plan should depend on two axes; the first; The strategic dimension regarding the president and government’s actions to confront and eradicate corruption, in all political, social, economic and legal aspects.
As for the other dimension, according to Bali, it relates to a package of important measures within the framework of the comprehensive reform process of the economic system, in order to avoid the aggravation of the crisis, which represents the accumulation of 10 years of control by what he described as “mafia” and party lobbies over most parts of the state, including the economy.
The Tunisian economic expert stresses the importance of the two things proceeding in parallel, meaning that the process of economic reform, restructuring of institutions and development begins in parallel with measures to combat corruption, reform the political climate, and purify the judiciary.
Regarding the economic reform steps that the government is currently taking, Bali made it clear that the structural reforms strongly encouraged by the International Monetary Fund will focus mainly on three main elements; The first is to reform the compensation fund to avoid the additional costs it generates, and to better control the wage bill of people working in the Tunisian state as well as the amount allocated to public institutions.
Bali clarifies that with regard to private companies, the Finance Law of 2022 specifically provides for reducing the interest rate on loans to finance companies, encouraging the social and solidarity economy, especially for projects related to the green and sustainable economy, and making a special effort on the digital economy or fighting tax fraud and integrating The black economy in official channels.
The spokesman explained that the Tunisian citizen is groaning in light of the accumulated burdens on him and the stifling economic crisis that the country is going through, so the government must start urgent measures to revive the economic climate, stimulate investment and support projects, in conjunction with the political reform map announced earlier by Qais Saeed.
At the internal level, Bali stressed the importance of consultations between the government and the Tunisian Labor Union during the coming period to discuss the package of measures presented in the economic reform program, and to avoid aggravating the situation.
#Ukraine #crisis #affect #Tunisian #economy