Monday, 8 March 2021, Free State of Bavaria-Republic of Tunisia: Bavaria’s Minister of State for International Affairs, Melanie Huml, and Tunisia’s Minister of Economy, Finance and Investment, Ali Kooli, signed an action plan for cooperation between the two countries. Tunisian Consul Mohsen Sebai was present at the signing ceremony held at the Bavarian State Chancellery. Minister Kooli and the Tunisian Ambassador Hanene Tajouri Bessassi were virtually connected.
The action plan, which runs until 2022, includes extensive measures. Bavaria and Tunisia will cooperate more closely in the promotion of democratic institutions, decentralisation, vocational training, tourism and the economy, universities, research and science, but also in issues of environmental protection and agriculture, internal security and justice, as well as health, youth and sports.
As per statement below, State Minister Huml said: “It is important to us to stabilise the young democracy in Tunisia and to sustainably support the further democratisation process. Good mutual relations are of great interest to us. Therefore, we want to fill our cooperation with life through joint actions on the ground and, in particular, develop professional perspectives for the local people.” She announced that 10,000 rapid tests will be delivered to Tunisia to support the Corona pandemic response. The delivery is expected to take place this week.
Minister Ali Kooli: “The cooperation with Bavaria can serve us as a model for cooperation with other countries. The new plan covers key issues important to us and shows that our relations are maturing year by year.”
The country partnership between Bavaria and Tunisia has existed since 2012. In order to further intensify cooperation, a work programme is drawn up every three years that defines the focal points of cooperation. The current action plan is already the third. The signing originally planned for autumn 2019 had to be postponed due to Tunisia’s parliamentary and presidential elections and finally the Corona pandemic. However, implementation of the agreed projects and measures has already begun.
For further information
Bavarian Government https://www.bayern.de/staatskanzlei/staatsministerin-melanie-huml/
Embassy of Tunisia in Germany (HE Ambassador Hanene Tajouri Bessassi): http://tunesien.tn/uber-uns/
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Picture by Bayerische Staatskanzlei – Bavarian State Chancellery
