Banque de Tunisie (BT) (Bank of Tunisia) was awarded the 2009 "Bank of the Year" prize by "The Banker Magazine" from Financial Times Group.
}This distinction was awarded to the Banque de Tunisie by London City international finance experts "rewarding BT for its financial solidity, its performance and pertinence of its development strategy" and "in recognition of BT's success to achieve noteworthy results in difficult banking conditions; it has carried on its progress, broadened network of its agencies across Tunisia, introduced such new products as savings accounts, banking insurances, credit cards and built its share of the market."
Commenting on this performance, the London-based "Global Arab Network" website points out that "being nominated Bank of the Year 2009 testifies to the strong management and cautious risk approach that Banque de Tunisie has adopted."
The network adds that "Tunisia received favourable ratings from leading world agencies" and points out that "Tunisia's objectives are to keep its economy's growth rate between 5.5 pct and 6.5 pct and to focus on high added-value sectors, which should increase from 23.5 pct to 35 pct in 2015."
This new distinction of Tunisia on the world stage is a homage to the successful Tunisian experience and the great resilience which the Tunisian banking system has demonstrated in the face of uncertainties of the international juncture resulting notably from the world economic crisis.
BT was represented by its financial director in the prize-awarding ceremony, held last December 3 in London.
© Agence Tunis Afrique Presse 2009
