Minister of Public Works discusses with AfDB delegation new project financing programmes for 2025

Tunis: Minister of Public Works and Housing, Sara Zaafrani, discussed with a high-level delegation from the African Development Bank (AfDB), during a meeting held in Tunis on Monday, the future work programmes with the Bank with a view to financing new projects included in the 2025 budget.These new projects include the construction of two economic corridors with a length of about 500 kilometres, the first linking the city of Gabes to the Bouchebka border crossing via National Road 15 and the second linking the city of Gabes to the Hazoua border crossing via National Road 16 and National Road 03.The Bank helped to finance the study of the project, which will help to promote economic development and create new investment opportunities in these regions, according to a statement from the Ministry.The two sides highlighted the possibility of financing the third infrastructure modernisation programme, which includes the upgrading of 92.6 km of numbered roads, the construction of a 15 km western belt road in M edenine and the reinforcement of 192 km of numbered roads in several states of the Republic.They also tackled pipeline projects financed in partnership with the African Development Bank (AfDB), including the Infrastructure Modernisation and Development Programmes 1 and 2, which covered several of the country's governorates.The AfDB has helped finance the construction and reinforcement of some 10,700 kilometres of roads, representing 50 per cent of the completed road network.Zaafrani underlined the government's keenness to continue working constructively with the AfDB in the coming period.She called on the Bank to further strengthen this partnership and expand it to include new areas that will contribute to economic and social development.The Minister presented the Tunisian Government's current strategy and the key reforms and major development programmes for the next decade, which will be prioritised and focused on, particularly in the area of infrastructure development and modernisation, as well as logistics and transport.The head of the AfDB delegation explained that this visit is part of the regular on-the-spot follow-up of the progress of projects financed by the Bank, in order to identify Tunisia's reform programmes and its development objectives for the next phase and the support required.She underlined the Bank's keenness to further strengthen this cooperation and continue to support Tunisia's efforts.The AfDB delegation includes members of the AfDB Board of Directors, Mohamed El Azizi, Regional Director for North Africa, and Malinne Blomberg, Deputy Director General for North Africa.Source: Agence Tunis Afrique Presse