The newly-elected president of UTICA – Tunisian Confederation of Industry, Trade and Handicrafts, has been sending shockwaves across the political and economic circles of the country. His frequent presence on TV and radio programs in recent days provided him with unprecedented public exposure to reiterate what he –and many others- really think about the economic challenges facing the country.
Samir Majoul, elected as 7th UTICA president on January 17, 2018, seems determined not to adopt a stereotyped discourse when talking about the state of Tunisia’s economy. He made it cristal clear that there can be no national sovereignty without real economic progress.
Samir Majoul seems to be striking the right note with a large part of the public: he sounds sincere, courageous,focused on constructive actions rather than on politics. He clearly articulates his insights into the economic situation of the country – which he qualifies as “disastrous” – without assigning blame or personalizing issues. During a March 5 TV interview, Samir Majoul declares that“If we do not engage in a fair evaluation of the current economic situation for which we are all responsible, matters will only get worse. This country has the kind of competent people who can make necessary adjustments. Our main asset is the human capital and it is within this renewable energy that President Bourguiba invested heavily. However, we need good governance to emerge from the current economic crisis”.
Minutes after his election as UTICA president,Samir Majoul called for a second Carthage agreement that engages all parties in strategies to revive the economy. He criticized the first Carthage agreement as purely political, thus providing no answers for the country’s critical economic situation. He stated that we can relaunch the economy if we have good governance that distances itself from party politics and empowers competent people to lead the country. “We want the best economic and social policy for our country, but this is taking time to materialize”, he added.
Mr. Majoul described the current political situation as a stalemate where no economic policy can be pushed through. He underscored the role of government in creating a favorable environment that is conducive to investment and job creation so we can all save the country. He was critical of the government trying to compete with the private sector on a number of economic activities, adding that the private sector should not be expected to pay for the mismanagement and poor governance of the government. He was also critical of the government’s inability to bring the informal economy and the illicit circulation of foreign currency under its control. He also pointed the finger at the Central Bank for its failed monetary and financial policies.
The new “boss of all bosses” has quickly asserted his presence within the political and media landscapes of the country. Although his honesty and courage have been appreciated by many, one wonders whether this kind of discourse will also be valued within the country’s political circles.
Only time will tell!
Tunisianmonitoronline (Fathi Ben Mohamed)
