The International Monetary Fund (IMF)’s Managing Director Horst Köhler stated that Tunisia has benefited from its smooth integration into the global economy by opening its markets while maintaining macroeconomic stability at the conclusion of his recent visit to the North African state.
"My discussions have focused on the challenges Tunisia faces in preserving its achievements in a difficult international environment, and in the face of a fourth year of drought that has brought agricultural production to a record low. Fiscal and monetary policies need to maintain a cautious stance to keep growth of domestic demand in line with production and to limit the impact of these shocks on the external position,” stated Köhler.
The Director stressed that Tunisia needs to intensify structural reforms, including the need to proceed further with external trade liberalization both in the context of the Association Agreement with the European Union and on a multilateral basis. He commended the country’s support for transparency in economic policy making. — (menareport.com)
© 2002 Mena Report (www.menareport.com)
