The budget deficit is expected to shrink gradually over the next three years, from 6.6% of GDP (TND 11.5 billion) at the end of 2024 to 5.2% of GDP (TND 9.8 billion) in 2025 and 3.9% of GDP (about TND 8 billion) at the end of 2026, according to the Medium-Term Budgetary Framework (MTBF) 2024-2026, published recently by the Finance Ministry. To achieve this, the Finance Department expects a continuation of the upward trend in budgetary resources. These are expected to reach TND 49 billion in 2024 (up 8.4% on 2023), TND 51.7 billion (+5.3%) in 2025) and TND 56.2 billion (+8.7%) in 2026. Budget revenues were up to TND 45.3 billion in 2023, compared with TND 41 billion in 2022 and TND 33.5 billion in 2021. On the other hand, budget expenditure is expected to increase at a slower pace. Up by 6.7% to TND 59.8 billion in 2024, then reaching TND 61.2 billion (+2.4%) in 2025 and TND 63.8 billion (+4.3%) in 2026. During the 2026 financial year, these funds will be allocated mainly to financing remuneration expendi ture - the wage bill (up to TND 26 billion), intervention expenditure, notably subsidies (TND 19.5 billion) and financing costs, i.e. interest on the debt (almost TND 8 billion). Investment expenditure will not exceed TND 5.8 billion, accounting for only 9% of the overall budget by the end of 2026. Source: Agence Tunis Afrique Presse