(Jul. 10) – The Tunisian government ratified an agreement on 73 million euro in Italian credit for SMEs. The protocol was signed in November of last year and is the 8th credit line to be extended to Tunisian SMEs by the Italian Cooperation. Such lines of credit, amounting to date to approximately €200 million, have encouraged the creation of thousands of jobs, along with the technological upgrade of approximately 500 firms with Italian-made machinery. Compared to the previous year , this new line has better interest rates for industrial operators and covers sectors such as agriculture, industry and services. It also has some innovative element: for the first time for the credit lines of the Italian Cooperation, part of the financing in local currency will be used – if reached certain cyclic conditions of the Tunisian applicant – to finance the revolving fund and the rescheduling of debt. (red)
