Tunis — A World Bank delegation led by Mr Vencenzo La Via, the Bank's Chief Financial Officer, is currently on a work visit to Tunisia.

The delegation met on Tuesday with the Minister of Finance, Mr Mohamed Rachid Kechiche who said that the country's positive indicators over the recent years in terms of the balancing of public finances, and its efforts to master the public debt, have enabled the country to have a positive leeway margin.

He also stressed the importance the State gives to preserving these achievements in spite of a difficult international financial situation.

On his part, Mr La Via stressed the efforts undertaken by Tunisia to preserve these assets, highlighting the good level of cooperation between Tunisia and the World Bank.

He also underlined the World Bank's commitment to assist the Tunisia economy in its progress through the identification of bilateral partnership opportunities.

The 2009 Africa Competitiveness Report published on June 10, 2009 by the World Economic Forum (WEF) ranked Tunisia for the third successive year as the most competitive economy in Africa.