Tunisia to Recieve Large Amounts of US Aid

By Dustin M Braden - 21 May '15 15:49PM

Tunisia, long neglected by US foreign policy despite being the only country to emerge from the Arab Spring with a functional, democratic government, is set to get a major boost from a number of US initiatives.

The new policies were announced by the Obama Administration in a White House fact sheet that was released after President Obama held a meeting with Tunisian President Beji Caid Essebsi in the Oval Office. Both countries signed a Memorandum of Understanding covering areas ranging from economics to defense.

Obama will ask Congress for a $100 million loan this year, and is open to requested as much as $500 million if it seems as though Tunisia will need more funding to help continue its transition to democracy.

The two countries will also set up a Joint Economic Council that will help create relationships between businesses and investors in both countries. Among the steps taken to foster investment is the establishment of a Tunisian-American Enterprise Fund of $60 million to be used for investment in Tunisian businesses.

The two countries also participated in Business and Tourism Roundtables to discuss best practices of fostering growth in both areas.

Among the new policies is the designation of Tunisia as "major non-NATO ally." Since 2011, Tunisia has received more than $225 million in military aid. The United States has also provided training and other expertise to help counter terrorism.

In addition to these economic and security concerns, the US will be providing Tunisia with technical advice on how to make certain areas of government more effective. For example, USAID will give advice on how to more efficiently collect customs and taxes.

There are was also a focus on education, as exemplified by the Thomas Jefferson Scholarship Fund which will fund the education of 400 Tunisian students for one year. There is also a $5 million Fulbright Tunisia Tech + Scholars program that will allow 40 Tunisians to complete master's degrees in the fields of business, science, technology, engineering, and math.