The African Development Bank marked its 60th anniversary with an official ceremony that showcased the institution's significant investments in Tunisia since 1967.
Under the theme "60 years of making a difference", the celebration brought together about 200 guests, including the Tunisian Minister of Economy and Planning, Mr. Samir Abdelhafidh, the minister of Industry, Mines and Energy, Mrs. Fatma Thabet Chiboub, Mohamed El Azizi, the African Development Bank's Director General for North Africa and other government officials, members of the diplomatic corps, representatives of partner institutions and beneficiaries of projects financed by the Bank.
"As part of the partnership between the Tunisian Government and the Bank, we have invested about $11 billion (almost 35 billion Tunisian dinars) in Tunisia through 193 projects to support Tunisia's inclusive and sustainable development", said Director General El Azizi.
These transformative investments include modernizing more than 70% of the road network, including rehabilitation of 4,000 kilometers of roads; providing access to drinking water for nearly a million people in rural areas; strengthening food security by supporting the structuring of olive oil and cereal value chains; creating 75,000 direct jobs through programs such as "CAP Emploi"; and financing Tunisia's first public-private partnership for the production of 100 MW of photovoltaic energy in Kairouan.
Ms. Samia Ben Abdallah(left), CEO of Awa and beneficiary of a Bank-financed project in Tunisia, presents a commemorative trophy to Mr. Samir Abdelhafidh, Tunisian Minister of Economy and Planning and Bank Group Governor for Tunisia.
The African Development Bank "will continue to mobilize more resources for the public and private sectors, and to innovate and adapt its approaches to meet the country's priorities," added Mr. El Azizi.
The Bank also took the opportunity to pay tribute to one of its founding fathers, first Vice-President, Mr. Mansour Moalla, for his contribution to its development.
"The interventions of the African Development Bank have always been in line with Tunisia's development goals," said Minister Abdelhafidh, hailing the institution as "a leading partner in Tunisia's development". In recognition of Mr. Abdelhafidh's key role in consolidating the partnership between the Bank and Tunisia, Mrs. Samia Ben Abdallah, a beneficiary of one of the projects financed by Bank in Tunisia and founder of the company Awa, presented the minister with the "Making a Difference" trophy.
As part of the festivities, Bank staff planted 60 trees at the Ennahli Urban Park in Tunis. The event was organized in collaboration with the Tunisian scouts of the city of Ariana and was attended by the representatives of the city's governor, the director general of the National Environmental Protection Agency, the media as well as members of the Bank's staff in Tunisia.
From left to right: A representative of the Governor of Ariana, Ms. Malinne Blomberg, the African Development Bank Group's Country Manager for Tunisia, Mr. Mohamed El Azizi, the Bank's Director General for North Africa, and the General Commissioner of the Ariana Scouts participate in a symbolic tree-planting ceremony at Ennahli Park in Tunis on February 28, 2025.
Also, a plaque inscribed with the words "Jardin de l'éternelle Afrique" (Garden of Eternal Africa) was unveiled at the Ennahli Park. The ceremony symbolised the environmental lens the Bank applies to the projects it finances, in order to contribute to a more resilient and prosperous future in African countries.
The Deputy Director General for North Africa and Country Manager for Tunisia, Malinne Blomberg, paid tribute to the commitment and dynamism of Tunisian youth, whom she thanked for their exemplary mobilization.
