Jeddah, KSA, 23.03.2013 – Tunisia’s affordable housing program which seeks to alleviate poverty in the country’s least developed regions and possible IDB financing was one of the main topics discussed during a meeting between visiting Tunisian Minister of State under the Ministry of Equipment and Environment, in Charge of Housing, HE Shahida Faraj Bouraoui, and IDB Group Chairman Dr. Ahmad Mohamed Ali at a meeting on Saturday.
The Tunisian official, in the city to attend the Jeddah Economic Forum, expressed hope that the IDB Group would put the program which targets people in the low-income group high on its agenda. The IDB Group Chairman underlined at the meeting that the IDB in general welcomes cooperation with Tunisia for supporting its development efforts. Dr. Ali, then stressed the importance of presenting the ambitious housing project to the largest number of financiers at national, regional and international
levels in order to mobilize the required resources.

The visiting Tunisian official also held a meeting about promoting joint cooperation with Khaled Al Aboudi, CEO, Islamic Corporation for the Development of the Private Sector (ICD).
As a founding member, the Republic of Tunisia has enjoyed steady relations with the IDB Group. It has, to date, approved nearly US$ 3.5 billion of financing for the country comprising US$ 1.5 billion from IDB to finance Tunisia’s infrastructural and development programs including power, mining, agricultural and water and sanitation projects; US$ 1.3 billion for trade operations to promote the volume of intra-trade amongst member countries; and US$ 755 million of commitments from the Islamic
Corporation for the Insurance of Investment & Export Credit (ICIEC).