The indicators released by the National Institute of Statistics showed that the Tunisian economy stopped contracting with difficulty during the third quarter of 2021, with expectations of a gradual return to growth during the remainder of the year as the closure restrictions continue to be eased and a loan from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) is obtained.
The GDP grew by 0.3 percent in the period between July and September, on an annual basis. While the economy grew by about 0.7 percent in the third quarter compared to the previous quarter, which reflects a gradual recovery of economic activity within a circumstance characterized by growing challenges.
The level of seasonal changes to actual production during the third quarter remained lower than the level recorded during the same quarter 2020, which coincided with the onset of the pandemic. The results revealed a discrepancy in the performance of economic activities, and the added value of the agriculture and fisheries sector decreased by 2.6 percent, compared to an annual rate. The industrial activity also declined, in addition to a decline in the production of the food industry by 2.2 percent. On the other hand, the mining sector recorded a growth of 28.9 percent, and the added value of the oil and natural gas extraction sector witnessed an improvement of 29.9 percent, compared to a decrease of 16 percent for the real estate development sector.
Source (London-based Al-Arab Newspaper, Edited)
