Latest news with #MosaïqueFM
African Manager
11-07-2025
- Science
- African Manager
A Tunisian woman to take part in a space mission
Salsabil Houij, a young Tunisian who pursued her studies in Tunisia and later in Italy, has been selected to participate in an Earth-orbit mission scheduled for 2029, as part of a program for future astronauts. Invited on Thursday on Mosaïque FM, Salsabil explained that the flight will take place at an altitude of 300 kilometers above sea level, below the altitude of the International Space Station. The mission will last five hours, including three hours in zero gravity, aboard a hybrid spacecraft, a cross between a rocket and an airplane. She noted that over the next two years, she will undergo intensive preparation, including psychological, technical, and medical training. This will be followed by an initial selection test. If successful, she will receive an additional year of training focused on the tasks she will be assigned during the mission. 'I've worked tirelessly over the past few years to achieve this dream, and today it's becoming a reality,' Salsabil said emotionally.
African Manager
09-07-2025
- Business
- African Manager
Trump notifies Tunisia of new tariffs via punitive trade letters
Tunisia has received official notice from U.S. President Donald Trump regarding new tariffs through what are being described as punitive 'trade letters.' Tunisia is one of more than a dozen countries targeted as part of Trump's strategy to pressure U.S. trade partners into negotiating new deals. In letters published on Trump's social media platform, Truth Social, he announced steeper tariffs than those initially delayed in April, according to The National. The White House also stated that the deadline for implementing harsher tariffs has now been extended to August 1. Tunisia, along with Japan, South Korea, Malaysia, and Kazakhstan, has been hit with a 25% tariff. Other countries face even higher rates: 30% for Bosnia and South Africa, 32% for Indonesia, 35% for Bangladesh and Serbia, 36% for Cambodia and Thailand, and 40% for Myanmar. Each letter reportedly used nearly identical language, warning the recipient nations against retaliatory measures. In his letter to President Kais Saied, Trump warned: 'If, for any reason, you decide to increase your tariffs, the amount you choose will be added to the 25% we are applying.' Gradual Implementation According to reliable sources in Washington cited by Mosaïque FM, Trump's tariff decision on Tunisian exports to the U.S. will be applied gradually, in hopes of paving the way for negotiations. Tunisia was among the first countries to be informed of the new policy. Initially, a **10% tariff will be imposed on Tunisian goods starting Tuesday, July 8, 2025 and will remain in effect until July 31, 2025. This 10% rate is seen as a first step toward bilateral negotiations to determine a final tariff rate. If talks fail during this period, the full 25% tariff will take effect on August 1, 2025. Notably, Trump had previously announced a 28% tariff in early April, set to begin on July 9. However, he has opted to start at 10% to allow space for negotiation. The letter to President Saied confirmed this strategy, with the threat of raising the tariff if no deal is reached. 'It Could Have Been 55%,' says U.S.-Tunisia Chamber head Marwan Ben Jomaa, President of the American Chamber of Commerce in Tunisia, stated on Tuesday, July 8, that the same Trump letter received by Tunisia was also sent to 12 other countries, including Japan and South Korea. He called the reduced 10% rate a 'positive point,' especially since Tunisia was initially facing a 28% tariff, and possibly even up to 55%. Ben Jomaa noted that Tunisia now has until August 1 to finalize a deal. He expressed optimism about ongoing negotiations, saying they aim for a 10% agreement, as several other countries have already secured. He also emphasized that Tunisia could double its olive oil exports to the U.S. and that broader trade efforts with other markets are needed. According to him, Tunisia has had a trade surplus with the U.S. in recent years, partly due to high olive oil prices. Ben Jomaa concluded by stressing the hope for a win-win agreement, noting that while talks have been difficult, constructive dialogue is ongoing, with potential favorable decisions for Tunisia and its exporters.
African Manager
13-03-2025
- Health
- African Manager
113,000 tons of bread is thrown away in Tunisia every year!
Bread consumption in Tunisia sees a significant increase during the month of Ramadan, inevitably exacerbating the problem of food waste. Each year, approximately 113,000 tons of bread are thrown away, equivalent to 42 kilograms per household, according to Chokri Ben Rejeb, Director General of the National Institute of Consumption (INC). He made these remarks on Mosaïque FM. He further clarified that this figure translates to 800 grams of bread wasted per household every week. Ben Rejeb also noted that food waste accounts for about 5% of Tunisian households' food expenditures, with bread leading the list at 16%, followed by grain and vegetables. He added that this phenomenon of waste intensifies particularly during Ramadan and affects not only prepared meals but also other food products. Milk and dairy products On another note, Chokri Ben Rejeb revealed that 60% of dairy products collected by centers are sent to centralized facilities, while 35 to 40% are directed to traditional factories, often lacking adequate health standards. This poses a risk of transmitting animal diseases to humans, such as tuberculosis. He recommended that all factories in this sector adopt milk pasteurization machines, which ensure moderate heat treatment capable of killing harmful germs at temperatures between 65 and 70 degrees Celsius. National strategy against food waste A national strategy to combat food waste will be launched by September 2025, initiated by the National Institute of Consumption (INC) in collaboration with relevant ministries (Commerce, Agriculture, and Industry). This strategy will focus on raising awareness about the socio-economic and environmental impacts of food waste, involving all stakeholders (consumers, manufacturers, hoteliers, restaurateurs, civil society, etc.) in the fight against this phenomenon, integrating food waste prevention into educational programs, and establishing a dedicated regulatory framework. The strategy will be accompanied by an action plan outlining the responsibilities of each party, as detailed during an event organized in Tunis by the INC in collaboration with the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). It is worth noting that food waste among Tunisian households amounted to 5% of food expenditures, reaching 910 million dinars in 2021 alone. The main wasted foods are bread (16% of consumed quantities), grain products (10%), and vegetables (7%). Food waste is a major challenge globally, as well as nationally, particularly in Tunisia, where significant amounts of food are lost or wasted at every stage of the food value chain. Additionally, Tunisia ranks first in food waste in the Maghreb region and second in the Arab world, with a rate of 172 kg of food wasted per person annually, according to the 2024 Food Waste Index Report published by the United Nations Environment Program.
African Manager
17-02-2025
- Business
- African Manager
Tunisia: Gold prices expected to exceed 370 dinars per Gram by next summer
Hatem Ben Youssef, President of the National Chamber of Jewelers, stated that the current surge in gold prices is 'unprecedented and staggering,' reaching levels not seen since the 1960s. He attributed this sharp increase to the depreciation of the Tunisian dinar in the global market, as well as the ongoing war in Ukraine, which has prompted Russia to purchase large quantities of gold, making it a major competitor to China, a country long known for its high gold consumption. In a statement to Mosaïque FM, Ben Youssef added that the decline in the purchasing power of Tunisian citizens has become one of the most significant barriers to buying gold. He noted that the average monthly salary increase for citizens has not exceeded 600 dinars over the past seven to eight years, while the price of gold has tripled during the same period. The Chamber President highlighted a radical shift in gold-buying habits in Tunisia. Previously, gold sales flourished after each agricultural season or during holidays and religious occasions. However, these traditions have been replaced by simpler, less expensive gifts, such as flowers. Regarding costs, Ben Youssef explained that the price of one gram of gold has now exceeded 250 dinars for merchants, who are struggling to achieve even minimal profits. He added that this cost has risen dramatically, from around 200 dinars a month ago to 220 dinars two weeks ago, and now reaching 250 dinars. This reflects a global increase of $12 per month, which inevitably impacts the local market. Ben Youssef warned that this alarming trend is expected to continue, with the cost of one gram of gold projected to reach 300 dinars for retailers by May next year, pushing the selling price to 370 dinars for consumers.
African Manager
17-02-2025
- Business
- African Manager
Economic growth takes a hit in 2024
Tunisia's economic growth remains sluggish and, at times, declining, as successive episodes continue to weigh on its performance. The National Institute of Statistics (INS) revealed on Saturday that the growth rate for 2024 stood at just 1.4%. During the fourth quarter of 2024, 'estimates from quarterly national accounts show that the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in volume terms, adjusted for seasonal variations, grew by 2.4% year-on-year. On a quarterly basis, compared to the third quarter of 2024, GDP in volume terms increased by 0.9%.' Agriculture: The major driver of growth The INS also reported a 7.1% increase in domestic demand in volume terms, contributing positively by 7.5% to the economic growth of the fourth quarter of 2024 (2.4%). Conversely, the balance of foreign trade in goods and services showed a negative contribution of -5%, due to a 0.2% decline in the volume of goods and services exports and a 9.7% rise in imports. Agricultural activities remain the primary engine of growth. The sector's value added grew by 12.1% year-on-year during the fourth quarter of 2024. The agricultural sector contributed 0.97% to the 2.4% growth rate recorded in the last quarter of the previous year. The value added of the manufacturing sector also increased by 1.5%, driven by a 2.1% rise in the value added of agri-food industries, an 8.1% increase in chemical industries, and a 2.5% growth in mechanical and electrical industries. In contrast, the value added of the energy, mining, water production and distribution, sanitation and waste management sectors declined by 7.9% during the fourth quarter of 2024 compared to the same period in 2023, due to a 16.9% drop in the value added of oil and natural gas extraction. Overall, the value added of the industrial sector fell by 0.9% in the fourth quarter of 2024, while the construction and building sector grew by 2.5%. The services sector maintained a positive activity rate during the fourth quarter of 2024. Its value added grew by 1.9%, driven by a 5.7% increase in the value added of hotels, restaurants, and cafes, a 5% rise in transport, and a 1.3% growth in information technology and communication. Growth rate falls short of expectations According to analysts, such as economist Bassam El Neifar, the growth rate recorded for the entire year of 2024, estimated at 1.4%, fell short of expectations despite the positive contributions from the agriculture and tourism sectors. On Mosaïque FM, he emphasized the need to continue efforts to improve this rate by addressing challenges in the extractive sectors, given their crucial role in generating foreign currency. He also stressed the importance of stimulating domestic consumption and maintaining internal demand. During the discussion of the 2025 budget, expectations were set on achieving a growth rate of 1.6% for the previous year, although international financial institutions had anticipated a rate not exceeding 1.2%. El Neifar noted that the fourth quarter of last year saw a 0.9% growth compared to the third quarter of 2025 but a 2.4% increase compared to the fourth quarter of 2023. He added that the most notable sector contributing to the mentioned growth rate was agriculture, which achieved 12.1% growth in the fourth quarter, accounting for 0.97% of the 2.4% growth rate recorded in that quarter. This was offset by a decline in the value added of extractive industries due to reduced phosphate and natural gas extraction during the same period. On the other hand, the economist stated that the industrial sector's performance was positive in the fourth quarter, despite a 0.9% decline for the entire year.
