Summary:

From 15-19 January 2024, the World Economic Forum (WEF) held its 54th annual meeting in Davos, Switzerland, where Tunisia was represented by Prime Minister Ahmed Hachani. The Tunisian delegation also included Finance Minister Sihem Bougdhiri Nemsia and Mounir Ben Rjiba, Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs. 

Hachani held a wide range of bilateral meetings with European officials as well as senior representatives of the Gulf states. He also met with Tunisian entrepreneur Slim Bouakez who heads WaterSec, a water management firm working to address water supply challenges. 

In January 2023, then PM Najla Bouden attended the meetings where there was a particular focus on discussing a loan deal with the International Monetary Fund (IMF).  

However, at the most recent edition of the Davos gathering, an IMF loan was not a primary point of discussion though Hachani did meet with IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva. The meeting came following a recent listing of Tunisia in a group of countries that have delayed their Article IV consultations with the IMF beyond an acceptable period. 

Upon Hachani’s return from Davos, he met with President Kais Saied. During that meeting, President Saied reinforced prior statements regarding his intent to resist foreign “diktats” regarding Tunisia’s economic future. 

Outlook: 

PM Hachani’s participation in the WEF meetings in Davos had a different tone than the prior meetings in January 2023, with a much less hopeful mood surrounding discussions with the IMF. President Saied’s comments following the event confirmed that Tunisia does not currently share a vision for substantive economic reform with the IMF and other European partners. 

Hachani met with a number of world leaders, putting into practice the vision for a “diverse” set of partners that Foreign Minister Nabil Ammar has put forth while ramping up engagement with Russia and China. 

While Hachani expressed an optimistic tone about Tunisia’s ability to continue to manage its debt and financing obligations, the reality on the ground remains less promising as shortages and other economic stressors continue to take a toll on Tunisians. 

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