Tunisia 2027 economic budget planning

The Tunisian government has introduced various measures within its 2027 budget draft aimed at economic restructuring and enterprise support. Initial plans focus on the financial restructuring of state-owned enterprises, such as the Tunisian Sugar Company (STS), OTD, SNCFT, and TRANSTU. To address debt cycles and cross-indebtedness within the public sector, the State intends to use compensation mechanisms—such as utilizing retained earnings from the National Company for Petroleum Distribution (SNDP) to cancel debts—and authorizing capital increases to improve economic balance without direct national budget outlays. Additionally, the budget proposes expanding community enterprises, with a goal of reaching 500 companies by 2027. The government plans to allocate 35 million dinars to a dedicated financing line and 5 million dinars to assist with promoter self-financing. Support measures include a digital commercialization platform, technical guidance, and extended tax exemptions for new enterprises through 2030. While these measures aim to foster growth, some experts have expressed concern regarding the historical effectiveness of such fiscal privileges and institutional support. Recent outlines of the draft budget expand these priorities to include economic diplomacy and enhanced integration into African economic zones, specifically AfCFTA and COMESA. To manage fiscal needs, the proposal includes 9.8 billion dinars in interest-free credit facilities from the Treasury to the Central Bank of Tunisia, repayable over 15 years. While intended for programs like job creation, some officials have questioned the allocation of these funds toward public salaries. Social and environmental objectives have also been integrated, including initiatives to combat school violence, reduce student dropout rates, and improve school nutrition. Furthermore, the budget addresses climate change by supporting revised agricultural strategies and bioclimatic mapping to ensure food security.