World Bank Vice President for the Middle East and North Africa Region, Ousmane Dione, said that Tunisia has all the necessary conditions to become “the Singapore of Africa” in terms of advanced technologies, logistics and human capital. This was on the sidelines of a statement given on Friday, December 13, 2024 to our colleagues on “Express FM” radio.
Dione explained that Tunisia is full of great skills and that it has assets that must be well exploited.
“Tunisia can be a continental hub for the solar panel industry. In terms of digitalization and digital transformation, it must be based on a clear vision in order to generate thousands of jobs and boost growth rates,” he added.
He also stressed that Tunisia is one of the main exporters of olive oil and dates internationally and that there are great opportunities to develop these sectors provided that the agricultural sector is modernized and a basic manufacturing industry is created.
Similarly, the Vice President of the World Bank clarified that the international financial institution, as part of its partnership with Tunisia, grants each year significant amounts of around 600 million dollars, or 571 million euros, in order to support Tunisia in priority areas and to finance projects.
“The role of the World Bank is to continue to support the dynamics of development and modernization and to help small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) through financing lines,” he insisted.
Moreover, Dione took the opportunity to discuss the role of the World Bank in Tunisia in the areas of energy transition and renewable energies by citing ELMED, the electrical interconnection project between Tunisia and Italy.
Regarding the field of education, he said that the World Bank has cooperated with Tunisian universities to ensure quality training for Tunisian students and young people, confirming that he is impressed by the level of the students he met in Tunisia.
According to experts, despite its strategic geographical position and its qualified human capital, Tunisia, the country located in North Africa, is struggling to find economic stability due to rampant corruption and a deep and multifaceted governance crisis.
