TUNIS, Nov 18 (Reuters) - Tunisia has collected 1.8 billion dinars ($630 million) from a national subscription this year, the finance ministry said on Thursday, as the country struggles to finance this year's budget deficit. The fiscal deficit in the latest forecast will reach 8.3% in 2021, up from 6.6% expected earlier. Tunisia this month resumed talks with the International Monetary Fund on a loan package predicated on Tunis imposing painful and unpopular steps aimed at liberalising the economy. Tunisia has cut its GDP growth expectation for 2021 to 2.6%, down from a previous forecast of 4%. (This story was refiled to remove repeat paragraph at end of story)Register now for FREE unlimited access to reuters.com RegisterReporting By Tarek Amara Editing by Chris ReeseOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Source: The North Africa Journal November 18, 2021 23:30 UTC