## IMF Staff Statement on Tunisia

_IMF News, March 30, 2022_

## Source details

**Canonical URL:** [IMF Staff Statement on Tunisia](https://www.imf.org/en/news/articles/2022/03/30/pr2298-imf-staff-statement-on-tunisia)

## Other formats

- [Markdown version](/en/news/articles/2022/03/30/pr2298-imf-staff-statement-on-tunisia/index.md)
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## Bibliographic details
- Published: March 30, 2022

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### Overview
- Press Release No. 22/98
- Date: March 30, 2022
- Mission dates: March 23–25, 2022
- Note: End-of-Mission press releases convey preliminary findings after a visit to a country. The views expressed are those of IMF staff and do not necessarily represent the views of the IMF’s Executive Board. This mission will not result in a Board discussion.

### Context and challenges identified by the mission
- Discussions covered the Tunisian authorities’ reform program and the impact of the war in Ukraine on Tunisia as it emerges from the pandemic.
- Tunisia faces major structural challenges that result in:
  - deep macroeconomic disequilibria,
  - weak growth despite strong potential,
  - a high unemployment rate,
  - weak investment,
  - social inequality.
- The impact of the pandemic and the war in Ukraine are additional challenges compounding these structural problems.

### Authorities’ program objectives (as described by the mission)
- Short-term: mitigate the impact of the war in Ukraine.
- Medium-term: assure stronger, durable inclusive growth and social protection.
- Program seeks to:
  - create fiscal space for public investment,
  - increase social protection.

### IMF assessment and policy recommendations
- The IMF considers that a conscientious reduction of the fiscal deficit is necessary to restore macroeconomic stability. Recommended means include:
  - equitable taxation reform,
  - strict control over the public sector wage bill,
  - better targeted subsidies,
  - deep reforms of state-owned enterprises (to restore macroeconomic stability, improve efficiency of state-owned enterprises, and strengthen competitiveness).
- Initiatives to enhance competition and the business climate are critical to unlock potential growth and job creation.

### Mission engagement and stance
- The mission had constructive discussions with Tunisian officials, including:
  - the Head of Government;
  - the Ministers of Finance, of Economy and Planning, of Social Affairs, of Industry, Mining and Energy, and of Commerce;
  - the Governor of the Central Bank of Tunisia.
- The IMF reiterates support to Tunisia, noting prior support during the Covid-19 pandemic and ongoing technical progress in discussions with the Tunisian authorities.

### Media contact
- IMF Communications Department, MEDIA RELATIONS
- PRESS OFFICER: Randa Elnagar
- Phone: +1 202 623-7100
- Email: MEDIA@IMF.org
- Twitter: @IMFSpokesperson

*IMF Staff Statement on Tunisia, Press Release No. 22/98, March 30, 2022.*

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## References

- [Tunisia and the IMF](http://www.imf.org/external/country/TUN/index.htm)
- [Press Releases](https://www.imf.org/en/news/searchnews)
- [PRESS CENTER](http://presscenter.imf.org/)
- [https://www.imf.org/en/home](https://www.imf.org/en/home)

_Source: https://www.imf.org/en/news/articles/2022/03/30/pr2298-imf-staff-statement-on-tunisia_