Cablegate: Calvert Support to Tunisia's Enda

VZCZCXRO7047
PP RUEHTRO
DE RUEHTU #1024 2121519
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 311519Z JUL 07
FM AMEMBASSY TUNIS
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 3587
INFO RUEHAD/AMEMBASSY ABU DHABI PRIORITY 0907
RUEHAS/AMEMBASSY ALGIERS PRIORITY 7506
RUEHEG/AMEMBASSY CAIRO PRIORITY 1460
RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON PRIORITY 1328
RUEHNK/AMEMBASSY NOUAKCHOTT PRIORITY 0895
RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS PRIORITY 1802
RUEHRB/AMEMBASSY RABAT PRIORITY 8416
RUEHTRO/AMEMBASSY TRIPOLI PRIORITY 0121
RUEHCL/AMCONSUL CASABLANCA PRIORITY 4119
RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
RUCPDOC/USDOC WASHDC PRIORITY

UNCLAS TUNIS 001024

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

STATE FOR NEA/MAG (HARRIS)
STATE PASS OPIC (LOREN RODWIN), USTR (BUNTIN) AND USAID
(MCCLOUD)
USDOC FOR ITA/MAC/ONE (NATHAN MASON), ADVOCACY CTR (JAMES)
CASABLANCA FOR FCS (ORTIZ)
CAIRO FOR FINANCIAL ATTACHE (SEVERENS)

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EINV ECON EFIN TS
SUBJECT: CALVERT SUPPORT TO TUNISIA'S ENDA

REF: STATE 103089

1. (U) Per reftel request, Post provides the following
background information on ENDA Inter-Arabe. ENDA and
co-founder Essma Ben Hamida are well-known to the Embassy.
Post has no objections to the proposed OPIC guaranty of
Calvert Social Investment Foundation loans to ENDA.

2. (U) ENDA was founded in 1990 and provides micro-credit and
training to less privileged Tunisians. According to ENDA,
the institution has nearly 50,000 active clients and since
1995 has given over 200,000 small loans representing a total
value of 98 million Tunisian dinars (about US $78 million).
ENDA operates 37 offices throughout Tunisia. ENDA lists its
2006 rate of on-time repayment as 96.31 percent. Post is not
aware of any allegations of corruption, legal violations, or
financial mismanagement.

3. (U) For further information, please visit the ENDA
website: www.endarabe.org.tn or contact Embassy Economic
Officer Victoria Taylor: E-mail: TaylorVJ@state.gov or Phone:
(216) 71-107-431.
GODEC

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