Tunisia launches interest‑free honor loan program for SMEs and individuals

On 23 July 2026 Tunisia issued decree n°148, published in the Official Journal, to create a new "honor loan" scheme that offers interest‑free credit without collateral. The program sets three maximum amounts: up to 25,000 dinars for small‑ and medium‑sized enterprises and community companies, 10,000 dinars for micro‑projects, and 5,000 dinars for individuals, with repayment limited to two years.

Banks are required to allocate at least 8 % of their previous‑year profits to fund these lines and must decide on each application within ten working days. Experts note that while the loan itself bears no interest, the cost is transferred to the banks, and there are concerns that banks may preferentially approve low‑risk dossiers, potentially limiting the scheme’s social impact. The total funding pool is estimated at around 120 million dinars, which some argue is insufficient for the large number of potential applicants. The initiative aims to improve access to financing for young entrepreneurs, micro‑enterprises, and other credit‑starved groups.