EBRD and EU support Tunisian ‘micro-entrepreneurs’

EBRD and EU support Tunisian ‘micro-entrepreneurs’

Microcred loans benefit 1,000 micro-sized firms

LONDON, 09-Jan-2018 — /EuropaWire/ — Kawther Bedhiaf’s professional dream started when she was a child in the Tunisian countryside.

“I grew up in a town called Hedra, close to the mountains. Being surrounded by beautiful nature inspired me to become interested in local herbs and oils,” she explained.

“My friends sometimes teased me about this and called me ‘Bio-Kawther’. My interest became a passion, so I decided to learn everything possible about organic products.”

Kawther is one of 1,000 ‘micro-entrepreneurs’ who have benefited from an EBRD credit line that is designed to help those frequently overlooked by commercial banks. A loan of TND 4 million (€1.6 million equivalent) to Microcred is on-lent to women, young entrepreneurs and people living in rural areas to develop their own businesses.

The project is supported by European Union funding under its EU Initiative for Financial Inclusion.*

Beauty parlour as market niche

“I had the idea when I was at home,” Kawther said. It suddenly dawned on her that her interest could be turned into a profitable business.

“I started to become a hairdresser, then studied to become a beautician. I took out a loan and started working.”

A small loan of TND 4,000 helped Kawther establish her dream business. Her beauty parlour uses only organic products and offers a full range of services: facial care, body massages, haircuts and treatments, manicures and pedicures.

She also added a hammam, a spa that is booked by groups of women who want to relax in private among friends.

Using natural products is not only in line with Kawther’s upbringing and philosophy, but also increasingly in demand among Tunisian consumers. More and more stands and shops offer these products in the local soukh, where Kawther buys her oils, ingredients and lotions.

This has an important knock-on effect, as her suppliers benefit from her success, too.

“Kawther visits us two to three times a week to buy hair and oil products for her beauty parlour,” explained a supplier. “She is a loyal client.”

Her business is well known locally. Indeed, it has become so popular that Kawther needed to employ several people to work with her. She is particularly proud of having created job opportunities for other local women.