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Tunisia's economic growth slows in Q2

Tunis, August 27, 2014

Tunisia's economic growth slowed to two per cent year on year in the second quarter reflecting a broad-based slowdown, the state statistics institute said on Wednesday.

The economy had expanded by 2.2 per cent in the first quarter of 2014. The North African country has turned its attention to reviving its economy as it nears the completion of a transition to democracy three years after the 2011 revolution that ousted autocrat Zine El-Abidine Ben Ali.

The institute said Tunisia's economic growth rate slowed to 2.1 per cent in the first half of 2014 compared to 2.5 per cent in the first half of 2013.

Tunisia's budget deficit is set to rise to 8 per cent of gross domestic product this year, from 6.8 per cent last year, according to the government, mostly due to rising public worker wage costs and subsidies which remain from Ben Ali's rule.

The government is seeking a way to cut spending without triggering the kind of discontent that toppled Ben Ali, whose overthrow was caused partly by grievances over unemployment and high living costs.

The government forecasts Tunisia's economy will grow 3 per cent in 2014.-Reuters




Tags: economy | Tunisia |

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