Increase in Remittances from the Tunisian Diaspora
The Minister of Finance, Michket Slama Khaldi, announced that remittances from the Tunisian diaspora have increased in recent years. She specified that these transfers are not subject to additional duties and taxes.
During a joint plenary session of the Assembly of the Representatives of the People (ARP) and the National Council of Regions and Districts (CNRD) on Wednesday evening, dedicated to examining the budget of the Ministry of Finance for the 2026 fiscal year, Khaldi added that ongoing digitization projects will ensure equal investment opportunities for Tunisians living both inside and outside the country.
Non-Permanent Revenue Sources
The minister noted that revenue from date harvesting, olive oil, citrus fruits, and other sources does not constitute permanent revenue, whereas tax resources represent the primary source of funding for the state.
Efforts of the Customs Corps
On another note, the minister highlighted the efforts made by the customs corps during the summer of 2025 at airports, ports, and borders, in collaboration with various stakeholders. In addition to its security role, the customs corps plays a significant economic role, and the minister emphasized the need to strengthen its human and logistical resources.
Tax Administration Efforts
The minister also recalled the main axes on which the tax administration has worked, including the continuation of geographical census, which has allowed the integration of many actors from the informal sector into the formal sector. These individuals will now have to fulfill their tax obligations to the state, she said. The minister added that tax control is a studied and non-arbitrary operation that does not target a specific sector or company.
Fight Against Tax Evasion
The minister mentioned that the investigation and tax evasion brigade has carried out numerous interventions that have led to the discovery of tax fraud and manipulation of declarations.
Microcredit Associations
Regarding microcredit associations, the minister indicated that the Tunisian Solidarity Bank (BTS) manages the financing line allocated to these associations, and the number of beneficiaries of the granted credits stands at 15,199. She also highlighted that an action plan has been put in place for these associations to restructure them by creating a regional financing structure that groups the different associations.
Public Enterprises
As for public enterprises, the minister stated that budget envelopes have been allocated in recent years to reform them, describing the situation of some of them as "worrying," while others have shown significant improvement. This file is currently being followed by the presidency of the government, the minister affirmed, specifying that the state's policy does not aim to sell these enterprises. The president of the republic has repeatedly reaffirmed that selling is not the solution and that public enterprises must be reformed instead.
At the end of her intervention, the minister responded to a series of regional and local questions.
