US presents new programmes of aid to Tunisia

US Deputy Secretary of State for Economic, Energy and Environment Affairs Robert D. Hormats presented on Friday new programmes of aid to Tunisia. According to a communiqué published Saturday by the Foreign Ministry, these programmes aim to develop the exporting capacities of Tunisian SMEs and boost financial co-operation at both bilateral and multilateral levels. The point is also to provide Tunisia with technical assistance to identify brakes on growth and donations of over 9 million dollars. At his talks in Washington with Foreign Minister Rafik Abdessalem, Hormats also affirmed that the US is willing to "react positively to any new Tunisian proposal to strengthen co-operation between the two countries."