Magharebia

The Tunisian government is targeting 4.5 percent GDP growth in 2013, up from the 3.5 percent forecast for this year, AFP reported on Thursday (August 2nd).

The rate of growth should be made possible by "revitalising consumption, stimulating investment and boosting exports", Regional Development Minister Jameleddine Gharbi said.

The government plans to revitalise the mining and manufacturing sectors, create 90,000 new jobs and increase public spending.

There was a slight drop in the number of people out of work in the first half of 2012, official figures showed, with 18.1 percent of the active population unemployed at the end of June, down from 18.9 at the start of the year.