Loans granted by the Central Bank of Tunisia (BCT) to the agricultural sector were estimated at TND 3,755.4 million at the end of June 2023, or 4.4% of the total loans granted to the country's other economic sectors (TND 84,639.6 million), according to the latest financial statistics bulletin of the issuing institution. These figures illustrate the importance attached by the authorities to supporting the agricultural sector as a guarantor of food sovereignty, despite the fact that several factors, such as the lack of bank financing and the increase in interest rates, are preventing the agricultural, fishing and livestock sectors from securing the financing they need to successfully carry out their activities. The same source shows that the first sector to receive loans from the BCT is the extractive industry (TND 27,137.1 million), followed by trade, repair of cars and motorcycles (TND 22,874.8 million) and real estate (TND 5,134 million). The hotel and restaurant sector benefited from substantial loans amounting to TND 4,421.9 million. The BCT's financial statistics bulletin reveals an imbalance in the financing of economic sectors, with banks preferring to focus on sectors with limited risk. 61% of the loans granted by the BCT to economic sectors at the end of June 2023 were short-term loans (worth TND 51,284.9 million), as financial institutions prefer to meet the needs of companies in the operating sector, to the detriment of investment, which requires long-term loans.

Source: Agence Tunis Afrique Presse