PM Sellal: “Algeria set to back up neighbouring Tunisia”

Prime Minister Abdelmalek Sellal reiterated Monday in Tunis Algeria’s commitment to pursuing its support for Tunisia at the political, economic, financial and security levels.

Taking the floor at the International Conference “Invest in Tunisia, Start-up Democracy” which has got underway Monday morning, in Tunis, Mr  Sellal said that “Tunisia is in the final stages of its transition towards a new promising era.”

To this effect, he underlined that “Tunisia has reached the last stage of its objectives after the radical changes achieved over the past three years at the both the political and economic levels,” adding that the Tunisian people have greatly contributed to the success of the democratic transition.

On this occasion, the Prime minister said that “Algeria will continue its support and brotherly solidarity with Tunisia, particularly in terms of political, economic, financial and security cooperation.”

Algeria will also work to ensure the “stability of the whole region,” he added, reiterating Algeria’s unchanging position in the fight against the scourge of terrorism, in coordination with the Tunisian side.

Sellal wished that Tunisia “would achieve other economic successes after the challenge of political transition and the stability.”

In this regard, the Algerian Premier brought out the importance of political stability in the economic and social development giving the example of “Algerian experience.”

The Prime minister invited all the partners “to actively contribute to boosting the economic development in Tunisia” and assuring them of “Algeria’s full and unfailing support for Tunisia.”

Mr Abdelmalek Sellal also stressed the need to “continue efforts with Tunisia and the other neighbouring countries to restore peace and stability in Libya.”

Mr Sellal arrived Monday morning in Tunis to take part in the International Conference “Invest in Tunisia, Start-up Democracy.”

Tunisian prime Minister Mehdi Jomaa for his part said in his opening speech that though this international conference is focused on investment, it is also dedicated to building new, exceptional, sustainable and mutually beneficial partnership.  It marks the beginning of a new stage, that of economic recovery.

“Tunisia is edging, with serenity and determination, towards the finishing straight for the first free and independent legislative and presidential elections in its long history,” he stressed, adding that his “independent government, emanating from the National Dialogue, has provided the country a future vision and an action programme to revitalize the economy and put the country back in the rightful position among its partners.”

“We came to power, through a contract, the roadmap, we start again on a future project, the one we will present to you today. We have worked hard since we took office to introduce a new style of governance based on competence, commitment and loyalty to institutions as part of continuity of the state, while respecting alternation in power.”

Mr Mehdi Jomaa said the “government has established a supplementary budget law for 2014 aiming essentially to put an end to the drift of our economy and restore major the macro-economic balances.”

The Tunis conference is marked by a significant international presence (United States, Maghreb, Europe, Africa and Gulf countries).

More than 30 states and 20 international financial and economic institutions are taking part in the conference, along with 27 multinational companies, investment funds and international banks (IMF, WB, EIB, JBIC), as well as six international organisations and senior officials from foreign countries.

Tunisia will present, during the conference, 20 major investment projects in several sectors such as new technology, renewable energy, industry, tourism and trade.