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Tunisia Prudent Spending Policy |
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Surveys indicate that newly privatised firms are thriving and more
trade freedom is being granted to local firms. Reducing the country's
budget deficit is a priority for both government and the IMF, ensuring
that Tunisia will hold firm to a prudent national spending policy with
targeted spending on areas such as health and education. However, the
proposed conversion of the Tunisian Dinar has been postponed until
conditions are more favourable.
Manufacturing, services and construction have all shown strong growth
in the first few months of 2001, while inflationary pressures remain
subdued and growth in the tourism sector is at an encouraging rate.
Tunisian exports are now very much influenced by the fluctuations of
the euro. According to figures released for the first eight months of
2001, the country's top export earners were in electrical/mechanical
goods, leather and shoes, and clothing and textiles During the latest
period for which information is available Tunisia's trade deficit
stood at 13.4 per cent or TD 2,850 million. Imports amounted to TD
9253.8 million, up 19.7 per cent; exports were TD 6,403.6 million, up
22.8 per cent.
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