Tunisia

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Return to homepage  |  Last updated: 15 April, 2020

The Government has announced a set of financial and fiscal measures to address the impact of closures and to reduce their impact on the economy. The total amount announced is $2,500 million. The stated objective of these measures is to avoid bankruptcies or permanent cessation of business activities, to maintain employment and to financially support the most profitable businesses. 

• There is a 300 million envelope for the benefit of technically unemployed workers, the first of which, according to the Finance Department's proposal, would be of interest to SMEs, with a view to strengthening the SME support fund, in addition to the implementation of the previous decision to provide a bonus of 3 points of interest.
• There is also a 150 million envelope for the benefit of poor and special-needs families that supports family programs that require direct assistance to individuals directly affected under the supervision of the Ministry of Social Affairs.

• There is a 500 MD envelope to increase the stock of basic products for the public sector drug, food and oil companies, and a 500 MD guarantee line to allow private companies that are unable to obtain bank credit to maintain their business (credits granted up to the end of December 2020, over a period of 7 years with 2 years of grace). The tourism sector (hotels, travel agencies, restaurants, craftsmen, transport, culture) is particularly targeted by this MF measure.
• Three new investment funds, funded by the CDC under the MF, (700MD):
  • The first of 500 MD (of which 100 MD will be released as a first tranche) for large companies, including strategic companies, to strengthen their capital and maintain employment;
  • The second of the 100 MD is a bridging fund for the takeover of existing investment funds in companies facing difficulties in strategic sectors, so that these funds can be used to finance other projects;
  • The third part of a 100 MD fund to finance the acquisition of equipment for hospitals and public health institutions.
• This contribution from the CDC will be dependent on the financing of the Treasury, which is the main source of funds from the CSF and would oblige the State to have recourse to the financial system.

Exemptions and financial support

• This measure relates to limited amounts because the source credit of the population represents a small portion of the total credit to individuals, which is 24 billion dinars. This does not pose any problems for the banks, as other individuals continue to pay back the loans.
• Deferral of bank credit repayments over 6 months for companies affected by the crisis. This measure, however, can be applied to higher amounts if it covers more than one sector.
  • For example, the central risk center has identified 67 billion Dinars in credit to companies, of which 39 billion Dinars is short term, and the carry-over must be limited to the most affected companies so as not to choke the banking system. The average liquidity requirement of the banks has fallen from 16 billion Dinars at the beginning of 2019 to 11 billion Dinars at present, and this fall over 12 months has helped to reduce inflation (from 7.3% to 5.8% in one year).
• A resumption of financing may allow banks to extend the maturities of affected customers, but this would be limited to 5 billion Dinars over one year, with the aim of not exceeding the level at the end of 2018. This represents 13% of all short-term loans to companies, so the balance of the loans must be targeted at the companies most affected by the crisis.

Main sources of information:

• Government of Tunisia

Tax & Legal: Dhia Bouzayen – Dbouzayen@kpmg.com