AfDB President Meets With Tunisian Prime Minister

3 July 2012
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African Development Bank (Abidjan)
press release

The president of the African Development Bank (AfDB), Donald Kaberuka, was received in audience on Tuesday, 3 July by Tunisia's Prime Minister and head of government, Hamadi Jebali at government house (Kasbah) in Tunis. The visit was within the context of the continual dialogue between the AfDB and Tunisian authorities at the highest level. President Kaberuka met on January 17 with the interim President, Moncef Marzouki.

Discussions between the two leaders during Tuesday's meeting focused on an assessment of the situation in Tunisia.

Mr. Jebali thanked the AfDB for its strong support to Tunisia in the early days of the country's political transition. "We consider you to be Tunisian, after so many years in our country, and we know that you are familiar with the situation. You are an actor in the Tunisian economic scene," the Interim Prime Minister said. He explained the challenges facing Tunisia during the transition period, noting that increasing social demands were difficult to meet. He expressed the government's commitment to ensure that public funds are spent primarily on employment and training of youth, development of disadvantaged areas, infrastructure and governance reforms.

The AfDB delegation underscored the common view shared with the Tunisian government on its priorities areas of action. These are aligned with the three pillars under which the Bank has redeployed its operations in the country.

President Kaberuka informed his host of the decision taken by the Bank's Board of Governors to prepare the Bank's return to its statutory headquarters in Abidjan, noting that the return will not be rushed. "We are preparing a roadmap for a planned and orderly return," he said. On behalf of the Bank and Staff, Mr. Kaberuka thanked the people and government of Tunisia for their unfailing hospitality for nearly 10 years. "In so doing, you made it possible for the Bank to continue its activities under good conditions in the service of Africa," He said. In any case, the Bank's office in Tunis will remain an important regional centre for its operations in North Africa.

After the discussions, President Kaberuka had a brief meeting with the press

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