Financing SMEs: A National Strategy Takes Shape in Tunisia
As part of the implementation of the national strategy for the development of Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs), the Ministry of Finance and Planning organized a workshop on Friday, January 31, 2025, focusing on access to financing for SMEs, with the participation of representatives from the European Bank and the World Bank.
Reviewing the Situation and International Best Practices
A presentation was made to review the situation and prospects of SME financing in Tunisia, as well as international best practices and experiences in managing access to various sources of financing for this category of enterprises.
Three Working Sessions
The workshop consisted of three working sessions:
Session 1: Facilitating Access to Bank Financing
The first session focused on ways to facilitate SMEs' access to bank financing.
Session 2: Diversifying Financing Options
The second session explored the diversification of financing options and how to benefit from new and alternative financing mechanisms.
Session 3: Financing SMEs in Difficulty
The third session was dedicated to developing financing mechanisms for SMEs facing difficulties.
The Challenges Facing Tunisian SMEs
According to the National Institute of Statistics (INS), there are approximately 98,000 SMEs in Tunisia. While government initiatives are limited by restricted resources, they will not be enough to resolve the quasi-structural problems faced by SMEs. It is necessary to revise the risk management framework to make it more in line with the realities of SMEs.
Strengthening the Legal Framework and Guarantees
Furthermore, it is crucial to strengthen the legal framework and guarantees to make solutions more attractive to both banks and SMEs, while providing technical and logistical support. In this regard, experts from the Institute of Accounting and Commerce (IACE) recommend, for example, establishing a fund and implementing technical assistance programs to support SMEs in improving the quality of their financing files.
