Day: April 20, 2024

Tunis: Accumulated tourism receipts and workers’ remittances barely cover 54% of accumulated external debt servicing on April 10, 2024, according to monetary and financial data published Friday by the Central Bank of Tunisia (BCT).

In fact, the figures published by the BCT show a staggering increase in external debt servicing of 116.4% (they have more than doubled), up from TND 2.8 billion on April 10, 2023, to TND 6.1 billion at present, due to the repayment of the pound 850 million Eurobond (in capital) on February 17, with additional interest of pound 47.8 million, making a total of pound 898 million (the equivalent of TND 3 billion).

Receipts from tourism and earned income rose slightly by 7.6% to TND 1.3 billion and by 4.4% to TND 1.9 billion, respectively, bringing a total of TND 3.3 billion in revenues.

Net foreign currency assets stood at TND 23.5 billion on April 19, 2024, accounting for 107 days of imports, compared with TND 21.8 billion (94 days of imports) on the same date last year.

Source: Agence Tunis Afrique Presse

Tunis: European Commissioner for Economic and Financial Affairs Paolo Gentiloni on Friday reiterated the EU’s commitment to boosting cooperation with Tunisia in various sectors and to supporting its priority reform and development programmes, the Ministry of Economy and Planning said on Saturday.

The European official was speaking at a meeting held with Economy and Planning Minister Feriel Ouerghi on the sidelines of the 2024 Spring Meetings held April 15-20 in Washington.

Ways to step up the financial and logistical partnership between the EU and Tunisia over the next period in light of geopolitical developments and the climate change impact on socio-economic development were discussed during the meeting.

The minister also held talks with Director – Lending Operations in EU Neighbouring Countries at European Investment Bank (EIB) Lionel Rappaille, with whom she reviewed the projects financed by the EIB over the next period.

The meeting provided an opportunity to discuss the Tunisian Investment Forum, which is due to be organised in mid-June 2024 with the support of the EU.

The two officials pointed out in this regard, the importance of the role that the EIB can play in the success of this forum.

Feriel Ouerghi, together with the official delegation, also met with Vice-President of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) Naoki Ando.

They underlined commitment to scaling up financial and logistical cooperation, and diversifying it to include sectors that are promising and a priority for Tunisia, such as water, research and technological innovation.

On the sidelines of the spring meetings, the Tunisian delegation took part in a workshop on “Addressing the investment gap to foster water security and climate resilience.”

During the workshop, the minister underscored that Tunisia, like many countries around the world, is suffering from water stress as a result of global warming, which poses a real threat to agriculture, services, tourism and food security.

She called in this connection, to consolidate cooperation on an international scale in order to find solutions to water stress and its economic, social and environmental effects.

Source: Agence Tunis Afrique Presse

Tunis: Eleven million dinars were earmarked for the fight against cochineal bugs, invasive insects destroying prickly pear plantations, said official in charge of plant health and quality control of agricultural inputs at the Ministry of Agriculture Mohamed Rabhi Hajlaoui.

The ministry set up a unit of control and monitoring of the implementation of the protocol on the fight against this bug in the ten governorates where its appearance was reported, namely Mahdia, Monastir, Sousse, Kairouan, Sidi Bouzid, Sfax, Kasserine, Siliana, Zaghouan and Nabeul.

There are four programmes targeting badly hit regions under this protocol which, he added, was amended several times. Under the first programme, it is mandatory to use cactus) as forage for livestock before the bugs appear and treating cactus to avoid the spread of the insect.

The second programme provides for fighting against cochineal bugs in areas where the rate of contamination ranges between 30% and 40%. Prevention in healthy areas in Kasserine and the Cap Bon region at the core of the third programme.

The fourth programme set the sustainable fight against this devastating insect as a goal as it provides for replanting new varieties resistant cactus varieties and introducing the ladybug, predatory bugs.

Source: Agence Tunis Afrique Presse

Tunis: Strong winds will blow over the south on Sunday, April 21, at speeds ranging between 50 and 70 k/h, and may temporarily reach 90 k/h in gusts.

Winds will be accompanied by dust and sand, causing a drop in horizontal visibility, according to the National Institute of Meteorology (INM).

The winds will continue to be strong, on Monday, April 22, over the South and locally over the Centre.

Source: Agence Tunis Afrique Presse

Tunis: 12 people died and 409 others were injured in various traffic accidents over the last twenty-four hours, said spokesperson for the civil protection.

Units under the National Civil Protection Office carried out, during the same day, 439 interventions including 96 rescue operations in traffic accidents and 34 fire extinguishing operations, the same source said.

Source: Agence Tunis Afrique Presse

Tunis: A Tunisian business mission to Niamey, Niger, will be organised next May 4-9 by the Tunisian Confederation of Industry, Trade and Handicrafts (French: UTICA)’s Association of Export Advisers and the Economic Interest Grouping (Tunisia-Niger Development), in collaboration with the Niger Ministry of Trade and Industry.

Several sectors of activity are involved in this mission, including agriculture, energy, banking, insurance and telecoms, the pharmaceutical industry, travel agencies, digital technology, as well as higher education, vocational training and public works, President of the Association Riadh Azaiez said.

The main goal of this mission is to boost trade in goods and services between Tunisia and Niger.

“It could also be an opportunity to remove the final obstacles to several Tunisian industrial investors operating in Niamey”, he said. The mission also aims to ensure an enhanced presence for Tunisian products in Niger and Nigerien products in Tunisia and promote the exchange of experts.

The aim is also to encourage and ensure a better intake of students in Tunisian high schools and training centres and seal a better partnership between doctors’ associations in the two countries.

A Tunisian-Nigerien business forum and B2B meetings are scheduled under the auspices of Niger’s Minister of Trade and Industry Seydou Asman.

“So far, 32 Tunisian companies have confirmed their participation in this mission”, said Azaiez.

Niger, with more than 2,000 billion m3 of underground water and 19 million hectares of farmland as well as large pastoral areas, is full of potential, especially in agriculture, livestock, mining, oil and energy.

Niger imported around $10.191 million worth of goods from Tunisia in 2022, the main products being pasta, biscuits, buildings and bridges, iron works, medical and surgical equipment, etc.

Exports from Niger to Tunisia amounted to $31,000.

Source: Agence Tunis Afrique Presse

Ouagadougou: The Cadet Stallions of Burkina Faso are housed in Pool B of the Union of West African Federations Zone B (UFAO-B) tournament qualifying for the CAN under 17 years with Nigeria (holder), Togo and Niger, following the draw carried out Friday in Abidjan in Ivory Coast, we learned from media sources.

In Pool A it is the host country of the competition, Ghana, Ivory Coast and Benin which appear. It was Nigeria who won the last tournament by beating Burkina Faso by a score of 2 goals to 1 in Cape Coste, Ghana.

The tournament will once again take place in Ghana, but this time in Accra from May 15 to 29.

The two groups A and B of the tournament

Pool A: Ghana, Ivory Coast, Benin

Pool B: Burkina Faso, Nigeria, Togo, Niger

Source: Burkina Information Agency

Tunis: The agricultural situation remains difficult, especially with regard to water resources,” said Abdelmonem Belati, Minister of Agriculture, Water Resources and Fisheries, during a working visit to Siliana governorate on Saturday.

Speaking to reporters, he stressed the importance of adapting to these conditions.

A team from the Ministry of Agriculture is visiting Siliana to assess these conditions and also to learn about the region’s grain harvest, one of the pillars of the country’s food security.

Belati took the opportunity to point out that his department had drawn up a programme for state farms and agricultural complexes, based mainly on governance.

He pointed out that this was a temporary phase and that a short, medium and long term programme had been drawn up to ensure that state lands and complexes reached the level required to guarantee greater added value for the economic cycle and at regional level.

Source: Agence Tunis Afrique Presse

Ouagadougou: Burkinabè triple jumper Hugues Fabrice Zango won the silver medal on Saturday behind the Portuguese Pedro Pablo Pichardo, during the first stage of the Diamond League in Xiamen in China, he said. we learned from media sources.

The Burkinabè Hugues Fabrice Zango, reigning triple world champion, achieved a jump of 17.12m, while his competitor Pichardo managed a jump of 17.51m.

This entry into the matter between the Burkinabè and the Portuguese heralds heated fights during the Olympic Games (OJ) in Paris next July.

Source: Burkina Information Agency

Ouagadougou: During the draw for the round of 16 of the Faso Cup carried out on Saturday in Ouagadougou by the Professional Football League, Salitas FC will play AS Douanes while USFA will be battling with AS SONABEL, two attractive posters between 4 giants of Burkinabè football.

The first division teams entered the running for this draw for the round of 16 of the Coupe du Faso. 8 teams out of 16 will compete for these 16th finals , two of which attract particular attention. This is the leader of Ligue 1, AS Douanes who will face the Academicians of Salitas FC and the Military of the US armed forces who will do battle with the Electricians of AS SONABEL (2nd in Ligue 1 ).

The Bobo Racing Club (RCB) meets Sporting Cascade in the Western derby while the Koudougou Traders team, ASEC-K, will face the Queen of stadiums, EFO. Other matches are also worth watching closely like Kozaf # Leopards SC and Aso # Royal FC.

The matches will be played on May 8 and 9. It is the EFO which holds the Faso Cup trophy.

All opp
ositions

Wednesday May 8, 2024

Salitas FC # AS Douanes (Issoufou Joseph Conombo municipal stadium, 3:30 p.m.)

Tema Bokin # ASFA-Y (Ziniaré, 3:30 p.m.)

News Stars # RCK (USFA field, 3:30 p.m.)

SC Majestic #AS Eco (CNT/FBF, 3:30 p.m.)

CFFEB # AS Hakili (Boromo, 3:30 p.m.)

Lowgoin FC # JCB (Koudougou Municipal Ground, 3:30 p.m.)

AS FESSO # Vitesse FC (ASFB Field, 3:30 p.m.)

FC Badeya # ASFB (Sangoulé Lamizana stadium, 3:30 p.m.)

Kozaf # Leopards SC (RCK Field, 3:30 p.m.)

ASO # Royal FC (Koudougou Center A and B Schools, 3:30 p.m.)

IDK # USO (Tanghin Dassouri, 3:30 p.m.)

RCB # Sporting Cascades, 3:30 p.m.)

Thursday May 9, 2024

Real du Faso # Sporting de Koubri (USFA pitch, 3:30 p.m.)

FAC # Rahimo FC (Koudougou Municipal Stadium, 3:30 p.m.)

ASEC-K # EFO (Ziniaré, 3:30 p.m.)

USFA # AS SONABEL (Issoufou Joseph Conombo Municipal Stadium, 3:30 p.m.)

Source: Burkina Information Agency