Tunisia Mobilizes Support ahead of IMF Talks

Tunisia is mobilizing support ahead of IMF talks.
Tunisia is mobilizing support ahead of IMF talks.
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Tunisia Mobilizes Support ahead of IMF Talks

Tunisia is mobilizing support ahead of IMF talks.
Tunisia is mobilizing support ahead of IMF talks.

Tunisia is preparing to head to the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in May to persuade the Fund to support its domestic economic reforms programs.

Prime Minister Hichem Mechichi held a series of preparatory meetings ahead of the talks.

Ambassador of the United States in Tunis Donald Blome affirmed during talks with the PM on Thursday his country's support for Tunisia in its negotiations with the IMF to raise necessary financial resources.

Blome added that the US administration is fully ready to support Tunisia's development efforts and ensure the success of the democratic process, the Prime Ministry said in a statement.

The ambassador also welcomed the progress made in the development program led by the Millennium Challenge Corporation in Tunisia, which will provide about $500 million in donations to support the national economy, especially in transportation and agriculture.

Ambassador of the European Union to Tunisia, Marcus Cornaro, on Thursday, expressed the EU's full support to the efforts of the Tunisian government in its national economic reform program.

Speaking during a meeting with Mechichi in Kasbah on Thursday, Cornaro added that the EU has support and cooperation mechanisms that will be made available to the Tunisian government, according to a statement from the Prime Ministry.

He stressed that the EU will be the first to defend Tunisia with member countries through ambitious investment and employment programs.

According to the IMF, Tunisia ended 2020 with an 8.8 percent recession. Tunisia’s current budget has a deficit of TND18.5 billion ($6.7 billion) and is likely to increase, according to preliminary estimates.



Indonesia Expects to Conclude Free Trade Talks with EU by End of June

People attend a morning prayer on the street during Eid al-Adha celebrations in Jakarta, Indonesia, 06 June 2025. (EPA)
People attend a morning prayer on the street during Eid al-Adha celebrations in Jakarta, Indonesia, 06 June 2025. (EPA)
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Indonesia Expects to Conclude Free Trade Talks with EU by End of June

People attend a morning prayer on the street during Eid al-Adha celebrations in Jakarta, Indonesia, 06 June 2025. (EPA)
People attend a morning prayer on the street during Eid al-Adha celebrations in Jakarta, Indonesia, 06 June 2025. (EPA)

Indonesia said on Saturday that free trade negotiations with the European Union, which have been going on for nine years, are expected to finish by the end of June.

Airlangga Hartarto, the chief economic minister for Southeast Asia's biggest economy, met with EU Commissioner for Trade Maros Sefcovic in Brussels on Friday.

"Indonesia and the European Union have agreed to conclude outstanding issues and we are ready to announce a conclusion of substantial negotiations by the end of June 2025," Airlangga Hartarto said in a statement.

He did not disclose details about what agreements may have been reached.

Denis Chaibi, EU Ambassador to Indonesia, said: "Negotiations are ongoing and substance will determine timing. We will communicate in details when we have an outcome."

The EU is Indonesia's fifth biggest trade partner, with total trade between the two reaching $30.1 billion last year. Indonesia had a $4.5 billion trade surplus, Airlangga said.

Indonesia and the EU have previously disagreed on EU trade rules for products with potential links to deforestation that could affect Indonesian palm oil, as well as Jakarta's ban on exports of raw minerals.

Indonesian officials have been motivated to accelerate talks on free trade agreements, keen to diversify the country's export destinations as they deal with US tariff challenges.

Seeking to end US trade deficits worldwide, US President Donald Trump announced sweeping "reciprocal" tariffs that have since been paused until July.

Indonesia is facing a 32% tariff rate.