Italian banking association promotes business in Tunisia

(AGI) Rome, May 9 - Italian banks have made 424 million euros available to firms seeking business opportunities in Tunisia. Industrial partnerships and investments are also being fostered. The technical committee of Abi, the association of Italian banks, is promoting internationalisation. Guido Rosa, its president, addressed the Economic Forum in Tunis, during a networking mission organised by banks, enterprises and institutions. Abi and its banks are visiting Tunis for the second time, also having been there in 2006. The mission is made up of a delegation of nine from the major Italian banking groups, representing about 68 percent of the entire banking sector. They are Bnl - Bnp Paribas, Banca Popolare di Milano, Banca Popolare di Vicenza, Iccrea, Intesa SanPaolo, Monte dei Paschi di Siena, Banca Ubae, Ubi Banca and UniCredit. Mr Rosa said: "The networking mission in Tunisia is a tangible sign of the growing interest the banking sector has in supporting Italy's internationalisation strategies. During the business meetings, the nine Italian banking groups will set up technical desks to assist Italian firms in detecting the most adequate financial solutions and back up commercial or investment projects in Tunisia. The delegation will also meet the dignitaries of the Central Bank, the Tunisian Banking Association and representatives of some of the major local banks." (AGI). .