Following a 22 October deal, France is set to hand €350mn ($415mn) in loans to Tunisia over the next three years to help support Tunis’ economic reform program and insulate it from the devastating effects of the Covid-19 pandemic.
But more is needed. The IMF this week said it would look positively at any request for financing. Tunisia already borrowed $745mn from the Fund back in April as it began to feel the impact of the virus (MEES, 17 April). The IMF’s latest ‘growth’ estimate at -7% is down on its April estimate of -4.3%. A recent spike in Covid-19 cases is adding further pressure to the struggling economy. (CONTINUED - 108 WORDS)