Announcement of Meeting of the Consultative Group for Tunisia on October 22, 1971

INTERNATIONAL BANK FOR • RECONSTRUCTION AND DEVELOPMENT 1818 H STREET, N.W., WASHINGTON D. C. 20433 TELEPHONE: EXECUTIVE 3-6360 Subject: Meeting of the Consultative October 22, 1971 Group for Tunisia A meeting of the Consultat:i.ve Group on Development Assistance to Tunisia was held in Paris on October 21 and 22, 1971 under the chairmanship of the World Banke Attending the current meeting were Belgiwn, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany. Italy, the Netherlands, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland the United Kingdom, the United States, the International Monetary Fund, the United Nations Development Programme, the African Development Bank, the European Investment Bank and OECD/DAC. The Tunisian delegation was headed • by H.E. Mansour Moalla., Minister of Planning • The Group discussed Tunisia's current economic situation, its plans for the future and ways in which members of the Group could contribute to Tunisian development, in the light of several documents prepared by the Tunisian Government and the Bank. The Group welcomed the Government's new economic policies and the emphasis given to economic growth and employment. The discussions focused on the promotion of export-oriented industries, develop- ment of tourism and the integration of external aid with Tunisia's development plans. Members of the Group expressed satisfaction with the recent progress made by Ttmisia and concluded that Tunisia's performance and development prospects justified continued assistance. They urged that the external assist- ance continue to be made available on concessionary terms with, in appropriate • cases, the financing of local current expenditures. The Group agreed to meet again in fall, 1972. - 0 -