Instability 'will not impact investors' decision'

The European Union will grant Tunisia the long-awaited “advanced status” partnership in November. Tunisian Minister Al-Tawhami Al-Abdouli said the news will be officially announced after talks with the European Union delegation. Abdouli explained that the security situation in Tunisia will not impact the negotiations and will not discourage foreign investments into the country. He urged for reforms in the legislation to coincide with the EU requirement and facilitate investment procedures to encourage cooperation between participants. Deputy President of the European Bank for Investment Philippe De Fontaine-Vive is set to visit Tunisia in December to sign an agreement for a loan for the banking sector in Tunisia. The 12th meeting of Euro-Mediterranean mechanism for trade and investment was attended by Tunisian minister of investment and international cooperation Riad Bettayeb Nicosia. He expressed his commitment to support Tunisia and his willingness to develop the country’s economic infrastructure. The European Union has pumped 23 million Euros into the Tunisian economy and funded an environment and energy programme whose cost is an estimated 30 million Euros.