Tunisia and the International Organization of La Francophonie (OIF) signed on Monday an agreement to set up the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) Office of the organization in Tunis. Foreign minister Khemaies Jhinaoui and OIF Secretary-General, Louise Mushikiwabo inked the deal.
Hosting the OIF regional office will put Tunisia on the map in the region and at the international front, Jhinaoui told media.
“This office will help strengthen cooperation between the countries of the region,” he added.
“The OIF office has strategic importance and will contribute to Tunisia’s shining at the regional and international level,” he went on saying.
The OIF last year announced the choice of Tunisia to host the regional office, for which Lebanon was also competing.
Mushikiwabo started Sunday a three-day visit to Tunis for enquiring about the preparation for the 18th summit of the organization to take place in Tunisia, in November 2020.
The summit which will coincide with the OIF’s 50th anniversary, will gather some 88 states.
Tunisia is one of the four founding members of the OIF created in 1970.
