Afreximbank Extends $500 Million Loan to Support Tunisia’s Economy
Afreximbank has approved a $500 million loan to Tunisia’s central bank to support key economic priorities. The funding will help finance strategic imports, meet trade obligations, and strengthen foreign currency liquidity. The loan comes as Tunisia shows signs of economic recovery but continues to face debt and investment challenges. The. . .
Afreximbank has approved a $500 million loan to Tunisia’s central bank to support key economic priorities. The funding will help finance strategic imports, meet trade obligations, and strengthen foreign currency liquidity. The loan comes as Tunisia shows signs of economic recovery but continues to face debt and investment challenges. The African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) has approved a $500 million loan to the Central Bank of Tunisia to support the country’s key socioeconomic priorities. The announcement was made in astatementreleased on June 22. The facility comes on top of the $1. 2 billion already disbursed to Tunisia’s central bank, the pan-African lender said. The new funding will help finance strategic imports, meet commercial debt obligations, and improve access to foreign currency liquidity, strengthening the country’s economic stability and resilience. The facility reaffirms Afreximbank’s commitment to supporting Tunisia and promoting sustainable socioeconomic development across the continent, said George Elombi, President of Afreximbank. Central Bank of Tunisia Governor Fethi Zouhaier Nouri welcomed the continued partnership, describing it as critical to preserving the country’s import capacity and strengthening the availability of foreign exchange. He said the operation highlights the value of African financial institutions working together to address shared economic priorities and reinforce national resilience. Recovery Signs Emerge, but Challenges RemainThe loan comes as Tunisia’s economy shows signs of improvement. According to the African Development Bank (AfDB), economic growth reached 2. 5% in 2025, up from 1. 5% in 2024, driven by agriculture, phosphate production, construction, and tourism. Inflation fell to 5. 3%, allowing monetary authorities to ease policy, while external imbalances improved somewhat despite a recent rebound in imports and ongoing debt pressures. However, investment remains weak due to financing constraints and a business environment that continues to discourage private-sector activity. Public debt remains high at about 82% of GDP, foreign exchange reserves cover roughly 106 days of imports, and the banking sector continues to face pressure from a large stock of non-performing loans. The financing operation also aligns with Tunisia’s 2026–2030 Development Plan, finalized in June 2026, according to several local media reports. Under the plan, authorities aim to move away from traditional planning approaches and place greater emphasis on project execution and measurable results. Carelle Yourann (intern)