国际英语新闻:Tunisian PM says urgent solutions needed for economic recovery

TUNIS, June 3 (Xinhua) -- Tunisian Prime Minister Elyes Fakhfakh on Wednesday said the economic and financial situation requires urgent solutions to guarantee economic recovery over the next nine months.

The solutions also aim to supply the state budget for the 2020 financial year, the minister said during a meeting with government members and a delegation from the Tunisian Union of Industry, Trade and Handicrafts (UTICA), according to Tunis Afrique Presse (TAP).

Fakhfakh stressed that the next period "dictates supporting companies to deal with the repercussions of the COVID-19 crisis, preserving jobs, developing the pace of growth, strengthening companies' capacities and seizing opportunities laid down by economic changes at regional and international levels."

Fakhfakh emphasised the need to develop a strategic vision concerning an economic recovery plan.

"The plan must be based on practical and achievable solutions to reach a phase of real reforms that have been blocked for years," TAP quoted Fakhfakh as saying.

For his part, UTICA President Samir Majoul said the union presented its vision of the current economic and social situation and the possible mechanisms to assist companies in order to address the crisis.

Earlier during the day, Tunisian minister in charge of major national projects Lobna Jribi announced the main lines of the third phase of the national strategy for partially lifting the coronavirus lockdown, which will start on Thursday.

She announced that mosques, all worship places, hotels and restaurants will reopen on June 4.

Travel between all Tunisian governorates will resume without authorization, said Jribi.

Tunisian nationals abroad will be repatriated from June 4 to June 14, "and priority will be given to students and residents who have lost their jobs."

As of Wednesday, Tunisia has reported one imported COVID-19 case, bringing the total number of cases to 1,087.