Young participants in an online debate organised by the Arab Institute of Business Managers (IACE), on Wednesday, called for a review of the areas of disagreement between the Tunisian authorities and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in order to speed up the signing of the Fund's agreement. The participants, represented by students, researchers and financial experts, stressed the need to create a motivating political climate in Tunisia in order to restore investors' and donors' confidence in the country. The participants explained that the recent downgrading of Tunisia's sovereign rating by Fitch Ratings from (CCC+) to (CCC-) casts doubt on the country's ability to raise the necessary funds. It also suggests that the country has failed to implement the necessary reforms discussed with the IMF. Today, there is no alternative to the IMF. Tunisia could only turn to the Paris Club if it went bankrupt, which could only undermine its national sovereignty, they pointed out. Participants stressed the importance of developing a five-year plan to define the state's direction and initiate the necessary reforms. According to them, Tunisia should also rely on its economic diplomacy, focusing in particular on neighbouring countries such as Algeria and Libya, as well as European and Gulf countries. They added that the Tunisian authorities could also rely on domestic debt to reduce their dependence on the foreign market, stressing that this alternative requires the launch of a "responsible" national dialogue between the various stakeholders, in particular the government, civil society and experts.
Source: Agence Tunis Afrique Presse