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Italy allocates USD 187.8 mln for Tunisia's development projects

TUNIS, Nov 2 (KUNA) -- Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte announced on Friday the allocation of USD 187.8 million to finance small and medium-sized enterprises (SME) as well as education programs in Tunisia.
Speaking at a joint press conference with his Tunisian counterpart Youssef Chahed at the Kasbah Palace in Tunis, Conte added that partnership relations between the two countries are strategic and distinguished.
Conte added that Tunisia and Italy would review ways to enhance legal migration channels and launch a repatriation program for Tunisians on illegal situation by helping them create projects in the native regions.
He underlined the importance of joint coordination on controlling maritime border and legal migration.
On Libya, he affirmed that Italy and Tunisia have identical views on the importance of intra-Libyans dialogue.
Meanwhile, Chahed said that his country would work with the new Italian government in order to overcome common security challenges, combat terrorism and upgrade economic relations to live up to their strategic partnership.
He thanked the Italian government for devoting some €25 million (USD 28.9 million) as loans to promote the education sector to improve infrastructure and school services.
He touched upon huge efforts made by Tunisia to combat illegal migration, referring to Italy's support to curb this phenomenon. (end) khs.sam.hm