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Tunisia Says World Bank to Lend it $400 Mln

People walk in the center of Tunis, Tunisia, April 29, 2021. REUTERS/Zoubeir Souissi
People walk in the center of Tunis, Tunisia, April 29, 2021. REUTERS/Zoubeir Souissi
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Tunisia Says World Bank to Lend it $400 Mln

People walk in the center of Tunis, Tunisia, April 29, 2021. REUTERS/Zoubeir Souissi
People walk in the center of Tunis, Tunisia, April 29, 2021. REUTERS/Zoubeir Souissi

The World Bank will lend Tunisia about $400 million to finance social reforms, the Tunisian government said on Tuesday, as it started talks with the International Monetary Fund on economic reforms.

The country, which is suffering from a financial crisis, is seeking to obtain a rescue package from the IMF in exchange for economic reforms, including spending cuts.

After a meeting with Prime Minister Najla Bouden, World Bank Vice President Ferid Belhaj said on Tuesday the bank was ready to provide the necessary funds for Tunisia to implement economic reforms.

The IMF and foreign donors have said the outlined economic reforms, including to energy subsidies, would need broad support, including from the powerful UGTT union for a deal to be secured.

According to Reuters, Finance Minister Sihem Boughdiri said earlier this month that Tunisia hoped to seal an agreement with the IMF in April.

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Aramco’s Investment Arm Allocates $100 Million to Artificial Intelligence

Aramco fully owns the Wa’ed Ventures Fund, valued at $500 million.
Aramco fully owns the Wa’ed Ventures Fund, valued at $500 million.
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Aramco’s Investment Arm Allocates $100 Million to Artificial Intelligence

Aramco fully owns the Wa’ed Ventures Fund, valued at $500 million.
Aramco fully owns the Wa’ed Ventures Fund, valued at $500 million.

The investment arm of Saudi Aramco has allocated $100 million to invest in startups in the field of artificial intelligence, with the aim of accelerating Saudi Arabia’s ambitions to become a leading global force in AI, according to Bloomberg.

Wa’ed Ventures, Aramco’s venture capital arm, has established an advisory board comprising former employees from companies such as Meta and Amazon to explore early-stage investments in this sector. The $100 million will be deployed over the next three years.

Wa’ed Ventures is a venture capital fund with a total value of $500 million and is fully owned by Saudi Aramco.

“Our strategic decision to allocate funds to AI investments is rooted in a deep understanding of the Kingdom’s growing ecosystem,” said Anas Al-Gahtani, acting CEO of Wa’ed Ventures.

“By fostering innovation and supporting AI startups, we aim to accelerate the development of cutting-edge technologies that will drive economic growth, improve quality of life, and position Saudi Arabia as a global leader in artificial intelligence. This investment will not only incentivize local entrepreneurs but also support the localization of global talent, ultimately unlocking the immense potential of AI,” Al-Gahtani added.

This year, Aramco’s investment arm has doubled its investments in artificial intelligence. Recently, Wa’ed invested $15 million in South Korean chip manufacturer Rebellion and participated in funding rounds for the AI platform aiXplain and Tenderd, a company supported by Peter Thiel, one of the most prominent names in tech investment.