On 31 July Donald Kaberuka, the president of the African Development Bank (AfDB), whose mandate ends on 31 August 2015, bade farewell to the Tunisian authorities and in particular to the President of the Republic, Béji Caïd Essebsi. Dr Kaberuka took the opportunity to express his considerable gratitude to the authorities for the hospitality the Bank received during its relocation from 2003 to 2014.

"We are very grateful for what Tunisia has done for the African Development Bank," he said.

The Tunisian President in turn thanked Dr Kaberuka for his visit and paid tribute to the AfDB's unwavering support for his country. Béji Caïd Essebsi also expressed his best wishes for the Bank's success and emphasized the crucial role it plays in promoting the development of the continent.

Dr Kaberuka also took the opportunity to reiterate the support of the AfDB for Tunisia, particularly in this crucial period when the country is facing as many challenges as it does promising prospects. He stressed that the AfDB will continue to support Tunisia to implement its development programmes for the benefit of all, particularly the young.

President Kaberuka Receives Benin's Highest Honours

African Development Bank President Donald Kaberuka was awarded on Monday, August 10 in Cotonou, Benin, the country's highest honours, the title of Grand Officer in the National Order of Benin.

Dr Kaberuka also met the Prime Minister, Habib Essid. This was an opportunity for him to hail the willingness of the authorities to strengthen economic growth in spite of the security problems faced by the country. The AfDB president was accompanied by a delegation including the administrator responsible for Tunisia, Abdelmajid Mellouki.

AfDB plans to invest some two billion dinars in 2015 and 2016 to support growth and job creation. It is also working on a new finance support package due to be disbursed before the end of 2015.

This operation will focus on reducing regional disparities, developing the workforce and promoting the private sector and SMEs. A long-standing partner of Tunisia, the AfDB financed its very first project there in 1968. And Tunisia is one of the three biggest beneficiaries of AfDB finance. The Bank's asset portfolio in Tunisia amounts to nearly US$1.17 billion, or approximately 2.3 billion Tunisian dinars.