BTC And the Tunisian government

The Central Bank of Tunisia (BCT) announced in a statement that its Governor, Mr. Chedly Ayari, chaired on Friday, October 20, 2017 at the Bank's headquarters, a working meeting on the theme "reflection on the reduction of cash (de-cashing) in the economy: state of play, stakes and road map ".
The meeting brought together the representatives of the Presidency of the Government and the ministries concerned, as well as the stakeholders of the payment systems and means, in this case the representatives of the banks (APTBEF), the Tunisian Post, the Customs, the managers of the payment systems, telecom operators, the Patronage and the Consumer Protection Organization (CDO).
In his introductory speech, reads in the statement of the issuing institute, Mr. Ayari said that this action, is part of a national strategy for promoting financial inclusion, consolidation resources of the banking system, a better allocation of financial resources for the benefit of the organized economy and the fight against illicit informal financial activities and practices, through the reduction of cash in the economy and development and the promotion of electronic payment systems and means and digital finance.
In this regard, Mr. Ayari emphasized the role of the BCT and the technical and financial operators to undertake urgent actions concerning the rationalization of cash payments and the optimization of cashless payment systems and means.
However, he added, "this approach is not the sole responsibility of the monetary authority, but should be supported by reforms and actions to be carried out concerning the legal and regulatory framework, economic and social policies. security and the overall business climate ".
A national approach, therefore, which revolves around three main axes: the improvement of the existing payment ecosystem and the promotion of modern electronic payment means, the development of savings and the consolidation of financial system resources and strengthening the legal and regulatory arsenal of the fight against the informal economy.
Thus, and in order to stimulate the process of de-cashing, it was decided at the end of this meeting to launch, under the aegis of a steering committee, four reflection commissions able to prepare a roadmap. on concrete measures and actions backed up by a timetable for implementing the recommendations.
The role of the Payments Steering Committee will be to coordinate and monitor the global de-cashing action plan. It will be chaired by the BCT and composed of representatives of the main supervisory authorities and technical and financial operators.
As for the four commissions, they will be as follows:

• A Commission for Optimizing Existing Electronic Payments, which will include the revision of the terms and conditions, procedures and tariffs for electronic payments, the improvement of the quality and availability of payment services and the distribution of electronic payment means. payment.
• A Payment Resources Development Commission will be responsible for setting up an action plan to extend the field of electronic payments. Its action will aim to disseminate and generalize electronic payment terminals (POS) and other electronic payment points in all points of sale of goods and services of public bodies and the private sector.
• A Commission to upgrade the digitalisation of financial services: it will work to extend the use of mobile financial services (SFM) to make it a varied payment tool based on a broad affiliation of public and private operators. It will also look at interoperability, which must be technologically and commercially functional.
• An Orientation Commission on the role of the State in promoting a financial culture that encourages de-cashing by the requirement of the regulation of certain public goods and services or payments by the Administration via the electronic means.
  Moreover, adds the BCT, a reflection will be launched shortly on the cryptocurrency aiming to set up a national strategy and to decide the choices which are necessary vis-à-vis this means of payment of the future.