Tunis: The Employment and Vocational Training Ministry, Tuesday, announced the launch of a new rescue programme for small businesses, in cooperation with the French Development Agency and the Tunisian Solidarity Bank, for an amount of TND 26.5 million. According to a press release published by the ministry, the programme is part of the Training and Professional Integration Support Program (PAFIP), which seeks to implement the State policy aimed at supporting the economic empowerment of young people, by diversifying funding sources and developing business support mechanisms. A working session dedicated to the presentation of the broad outlines of this programme was held on Tuesday, under chairmanship of Chief of Staff of Employment and Vocational Training Minister, Abdelkader Jamal. This includes the official launch of the registration platform from April 16 to May 15 for the benefit of 4,500 small businesses facing difficulty. The Chief of Staff pointed out that the programme will continue until the end of June 2025 and will include the various support and financing processes for the benefit of nearly 700 small businesses in difficulty and able to recover. Support will be offered to these companies by rescheduling their debts with the Tunisian Solidarity Bank as well as granting loans for expansion or restoration of the pace of activity under favorable conditions with a ceiling of 50,000 dinars, (a rate interest of 5% and a grace period of 12 months). Source: Agence Tunis Afrique Presse