Indicators signal start of economic recovery: Tunisian PM

TUNIS, March 23 (Xinhua) -- Tunisia's economic indicators, since the beginning of 2018, signal the start of recovery, Tunisian Prime Minister Youssef Chahed said on Friday.

The prime minister made the remarks during a hearing session at Assembly of People's Representatives (ARP), or parliament, in Tunis.

Tunisian exports have grown by 40 percent, Youssef said, adding that tourism sector is expecting 8 million tourists this year and a 25 percent growth in tourism receipts, with a 100 percent booking rate for this summer.

"Apart from the fight against terrorism, our major challenge is the resuscitation of the national economy, which requires a series of urgent measures and a plan for structural reforms in almost all areas," said Youssef.

One the main concerns of Tunisian government is the delicate situation of public finance of the state, a reality that becomes more and more "unbearable," according to Youssef.

"The total debt to public enterprises has so far reached 6,500 million dinars (about 2,719 million U.S. dollars), an envelope that should have been injected into the State budget designed for the development of sectors such as health, education, training and regional development," he said.

With a national political process entitled "Carthage Act" signed in 2016 by different political parties, Youssef has made a roadmap, called "National Economic and Social Plan for 2020."

To get out of the current socio-economic crisis, the Tunisian government has taken a lot of measures including the consolidation of economic revival via medium-term structural reforms, the reinforcement of social integration and the stimulation of employability. Enditem