Tunisian Construction Federation Treasurer Calls for Settlement of Unpaid Government Contracts
The treasurer of the Tunisian Federation of Construction and Public Works (BTP), affiliated with the Tunisian Union of Industry, Trade, and Handicrafts (UTICA), Myasser Baroudi, has stated that many of his fellow entrepreneurs are struggling to complete their work due to unpaid government contracts, a situation that has persisted for years.
In an interview with a private radio station, Baroudi explained that entrepreneurs are urging the Ministry of Equipment and Housing and the Tunisian government to settle outstanding debts and accelerate the awarding of contracts to entrepreneurs, particularly given the long waiting list.
Baroudi revealed that the amount owed to entrepreneurs had reached 1 billion dinars by the end of 2021 and remains unpaid to this day, with new contracts in 2024 further exacerbating the issue.
Meanwhile, the Arab-European Economic Conference, which took place in Hammamet, Tunisia, over the weekend, concluded with a series of partnerships between the Tunisian Federation of Construction and its Libyan, Algerian, and other African counterparts.
Baroudi, who is also the president of the Chamber of Plaster Entrepreneurs, highlighted Tunisia's second-largest global reserve of plaster and its renowned plaster industry, which produces highly sought-after products, particularly in Libya. He commended the government's efforts, which have announced new legislation for the sector, set to boost its economic dynamism and modernize it.
