TUNIS, Nov. 26 (Xinhua) -- Tunisian President Kais Saied on Tuesday met with George Elombi, the newly appointed president and chairman of the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank), to discuss economic cooperation, the Tunisian presidency said Wednesday.
Saied hailed the strategic partnership between Tunisia and Afreximbank, highlighting the bank's role in providing concessional financing to support the state budget and key development projects. He also underscored the bank's contribution to boosting intra-African trade, calling it "an essential partner" in addressing economic and financial challenges facing both public and private sectors.
Saied welcomed Afreximbank's plan to open a regional office in Tunisia, saying the move would invigorate the financial sector and broaden funding opportunities for Tunisian businesses.
Central Bank Governor Fathi Zouhair Nouri also attended the meeting.
Speaking to reporters after the talks, Elombi said he held "a rather lengthy discussion" with Saied focused on economic issues. He cited the expansion of Tunis-Carthage International Airport and the planned deep-water port project as key areas where Afreximbank could step up support.
He added that the bank was preparing significant financing packages for projects run by the Gafsa Phosphates Company and the Tunisian Chemical Group. Afreximbank also intends to back initiatives by the Tunisian Electricity and Gas Company and the Tunisian Company of Refining Industries, he said.
On the Libya-Algeria-Tunisia electricity interconnection project, Elombi noted that around 70 km of the line inside Tunisia remains unfinished, reaffirming the bank's readiness to fund the remaining segment. Once completed, the interconnection is expected to provide 400 kilowatts of capacity in line with feasibility study recommendations. ■
