The President of EBRD Suma Chakrabarti stated, "The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development(EBRD) will sign, Monday afternoon in Tunis, two agreements to support Tunisian small- and medium-sized Enterprises (SME) and international trade."

Mr. Chakrabarti has revealed this following his talks with Premier Mehdi Jomaa on Monday. He has further said that the bank will sign its first deal with Tunisie Leasing.

He disclosed, "A 10-million-euro loans (1euro=2.28td) will be granted to Tunisie Leasing to support Tunisian SME and promote job creation."

The EBRD President has also revealed that the lender will ink its next deal with Tunisian-Kuwaiti Bank (BTK).

Mr. Chakrabarti has explicated that "a 10-million-dollar loan (1 dollar=1.67td) aimed to support international trade and help exporters have access to funding, to reinforce Tunisia's economic growth."

The bank's private sector investment in Tunisia for this year is likely to touch the levels of EUR 100 million, according to the official.

He has further disclosed that the lender will also invest in the banking sector s transformation and streamlining projects as well as in the public sector initiatives, like urban transportation chiefly the railway sector, in the country.

He has assured that the EBRD will continue to support Tunisia as a long-lasting partner, while the nation is moving towards steady and contemporary transformation process, and added that "Tunisia is a model for many other regions."

Mr. Chakrabarti has stated that the Tunisian economy will expand further over earlier years, if the tourism and trade sectors are revitalized. He has also reiterated the bank's pledge to facilitate Tunisia accomplish this goal.

Nidhal Ouerfelli, the Minister to the Prime Minister responsible for Economic Affairs Co-ordination and Monitoring, has revealed that Mr. Chakrabarti has reaffirmed the EBRD s dedication to spend in a number of sectors and projects like schemes for infrastructure and development, transformation of the banking sector, renewable energies as well as clear energy and investment in the lake Bizerte cleaning project.