Tunis: Prime Minister Sarra Zaafrani Zenzri chaired a Cabinet meeting at the Kasbah Government Palace to discuss the draft Development Plan for 2026-2030. The plan is set to adopt a bottom-up approach, beginning at the local level, and advancing through regional and district levels before culminating at the national level.
According to Agence Tunis Afrique Presse - English, the draft plan was crafted by integrating reports from local, regional, and district councils, ensuring alignment between social and economic policies and proposed development projects. This initiative aims to establish a new development model that guarantees social justice and balanced development, aligning with President Kais Saied's vision and addressing the aspirations of Tunisians.
The plan emphasizes the social dimension as a priority, aiming to achieve inclusive economic and social integration across regions. It seeks to lay the foundation for a resilient economy capable of withstanding global shifts, such as geopolitical tensions and the transition towards a multipolar world. Global trends like digitalization, artificial intelligence, energy transition, and environmental challenges have also been acknowledged in the plan, with a focus on directing investments towards clean technologies and green economy initiatives.
Prime Minister Zenzri highlighted the plan's objective to elevate growth rates by supporting high value-added sectors and promoting innovation. The aim is to strengthen the national economy's resilience, improve competitiveness, and create job opportunities, particularly for youth and those with higher education degrees. Socially, the plan seeks to expand the beneficiaries of growth outcomes, reduce poverty, and enhance social protection systems to ensure equal access to education, healthcare, and employment.
Territorial investment is a key component, with a focus on less developed regions to reduce disparities and enhance regional attractiveness. The plan calls for necessary legal reforms to align economic, social, and regional dimensions, establishing a comprehensive development model that meets citizens' expectations.
Minister of Economy and Planning, Samir Abdelhafidh, presented a macroeconomic overview and outlined growth objectives, strategic targets, and key reforms for sectors like agriculture, energy, and transportation during the meeting. He also detailed the methodology for handling proposed projects eligible for inclusion in the development plan.
In conclusion, the Prime Minister announced that the draft plan will be presented to the Cabinet after considering feedback from government members. The plan represents a pivotal milestone aimed at breaking away from past policies and ensuring wealth distribution among all Tunisians, while enhancing the income and living conditions of citizens.