The Global Forum on Public-Private Partnerships (PPP) kicked off Tuesday in the Tunisian capital Tunis with more than 1,000 attendees, including 250 international donor representatives who will examine 33 projects worth up to 13 billion dinars ($4.7 billion).
Through these projects, Tunisia seeks to create new job opportunities - that would assimilate thousands of unemployed, boost development and reduce the socio-economic gap.
These projects represent around 30 percent of Tunisia’s budget for the coming year, which highlights the economy's need for foreign and local funding.
Zied Ladhari, Tunisian Minister of Development, Investment and International Cooperation, said that the giant projects proposed for public and private partnerships will remain owned by the Tunisian state. He added that privatization and the partnership between private and public sectors are two different concepts that should not be mixed.
The partnerships include a deepwater port and a subway in the eastern city of Sfax, as well as water, environment, logistics and technology projects.
The Tunisian parliament approved in 2015 the law organizing public-private sector partnerships. The Tunisian authorities have also formed a government authority assigned to address investors in both sectors.
Tunisia needs next year total finances of 10 billion dinars, including 7 billion dinars ($2.53 billion) in external financing. Tunisia plans to issue $1 billion in bonds in early October to help cover 2018’s deficit.
