FILE - Tunisia's Speaker of the Assembly Mustapha Ben Jaafar casts his vote over the composition of an election commission that will oversee a vote later this year, Tunis, Jan. 8, 2014.
The United States strongly supports the Tunisian people and their progress toward a future of economic prosperity and democratic government.
The United States strongly supports the Tunisian people and their progress toward a future of economic prosperity and democratic government. Since the January 2011 revolution, the United States has committed more than $400 million to support Tunisia's transition, focusing on technical and financial assistance to Tunisia's economy and private sector, support for security in the country and along its borders, and support for its civil society and democratic practices.
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U.S. - Tunisia Relations
In an effort to support private sector-led growth in Tunisia, the U.S. has declared its intent to provide another sovereign loan guarantee to Tunisia, enabling the government to raise approximately $500 million from international capital market at favorable rates.
As a means to promote trade and investment in Tunisia, the bilateral Trade and Investment Framework Agreement Council will address at its next meeting in June, issues of market access, entrepreneurship, information and communication technology sectors, and intellectual property.
In 2012, the U.S. launched the Thomas Jefferson Scholarship Program. The $10 million initiative sends Tunisian undergraduate students for one academic year of undergraduate studies at U.S. universities and community colleges. The U.S. Congress recently approved an additional $10 million for the program, increasing the total number of students to 400.
In an effort to promote democratic governance, the U.S. is providing nearly $50 million to strengthen participatory and inclusive political processes, build the capacity of civil society to stay connected to citizens through ongoing civic education and promote freedom of expression. The U.S. will provide more than $6 million dollars in additional elections assistance for the planned 2014 elections.
The United States has provided more than $100 million since 2011 to help professionalize and improve the capabilities of the Tunisian armed forces and $30 million to help professionalize and improve the capabilities of Tunisian law enforcement and justice sectors. In addition, the U.S. has provided nearly $6 million in training for law enforcement agencies in 2012 and 2103 to combat international terrorists and terrorist organizations.
These many initiatives demonstrate the depth and breadth of the partnership and friendship between the United States and Tunisia as well as the shared commitment to supporting Tunisia's historic democratic transition and its economic growth and security.
