International Monetary Fund 5IMF) said on March 3, 2016, it is in advanced talks with Tunisia over a four year $2.8 billion credit line to help support the country’s reform program.

“Negotiations for a new IMF arrangement to support the government’s economic reform program are at an advanced stage,” IMF said in a statement, highlighting that a delegation it sent to Tunis held productive discussions with senior government and Central Bank officials and other local economic and political actors from February 18 to March 3.

IMF’s team also said it was necessary to fine-tune the country’s needs regarding reforms and determine financing needs for the year.

“In the coming weeks, the team plans to finalize the details of the Extended Fund Facility (EFF) in support to Tunisia’s economic program,” it said in its statement.

In June 2013, IMF approved the granting of a $1.7 billion credit line to Tunisia over two years under a Stand-By arrangement to help support political transition. The line, which was to expire in June, had been extended 7 months to December 2015 to allow the North African nation to implement economic reforms demanded in return for IMF’s financial support. In respect to the first credit line, Tunisia agreed to implement reforms including easing exchange regulation, reform of banking sector and keeping budget deficit under control.

Despite achieving political transition subsequent to the overthrowing of Ben Ali in 2011, Tunisia still struggles to restart its economy which is marked by political and security issues as well as a growing presence of the Jihadist movement which is behind various terrorist attacks last year.