The Assembly of People's Representatives (ARP), on Wednesday, approved the draft budget of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Migration and Tunisians Abroad for 2024 with 103 votes in favour, 5 against and 17 abstentions. In figures, the commitment appropriations entered in the budget of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Migration and Tunisians Abroad for 2024 amount to TND 368.600 million. Payment appropriations amount to 344 million dinars. In his response to MPs' interventions, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Nabil Ammar, pointed out that his ministry's budget represents only 0.59% of the state budget, which, he regretted, is not enough "either to cover needs or to define and implement projects and programmes" within the ministry. He said the vast majority of the ministry's expenditure is in foreign currency. He added that Tunisian missions abroad are finding it difficult to meet their commitments because of the depreciation of the Tunisian dinar, the increase in exchange rates and the rise in inflation in m any countries, as well as the increase in the prices of fuel, gas, rents, etc. He pointed out that the number of premises used by diplomatic missions abroad is estimated at 167, of which 77 belong to the Tunisian state and 90 are rented. This "further increases the burden on the ministry's budget," he said. Nabil Ammar pointed out that an urgent measure had been adopted to opt for the purchase of premises for diplomatic and consular missions abroad in order to reduce the rental burden on the ministry. With regard to economic diplomacy, the Minister said that this was a "priority" for the Ministry and a "major element" in the action plan for diplomatic missions abroad. He noted that the activities of the General Directorate for Economic and Cultural Diplomacy and Strategic Planning, created in 2018, had been strengthened in this regard. However, he regretted the lack of material and logistical resources to promote Tunisian products and attract foreign investment, as well as the inadequacy of the funds all ocated for this purpose. The Minister said 53 heads of diplomatic missions, including 7 women (35 ambassadors, 8 consuls-general and 10 consuls), have recently been appointed and would soon take up their posts. These appointments had been made transparently and on the basis of integrity, competence, responsibility and diplomacy. He added that the ministry was working to strengthen Tunisia's diplomatic representation, particularly in Africa and Asia. "Asia and Africa are promising markets for Tunisia," he pointed out. Source: EN - Agence Tunis Afrique Presse