(TAP)- Prime Minister Hichem Mechichi proposed a national economic and social dialgoue as he addressed MPs at a plenary held Saturday to look at the draft State budget and the finance bill for 2021.

He also suggested the initiation of a local and regional dialogue to "identify regional development projects and implement them in partnership with civil society."

The Premier told MPs the national dialogue will focus on strengthening and expanding the social security regime as well as on large-scale economic reforms and orientations .

"Successful development projects hinge on real coordination that puts an end to centralisation in decision-making and planning and exaggerated demands which do not take into consideration Tunisia\\'s interests." A new governance is in place, Mechichi said. Ministerial working groups will be set up. They will visit regions according to a clear timetable and a sustainable approach that will produce projects.

Commenting on projects off track, the Prime Minister said public procurement legislation and procedures will be updated and simplified to cut red tape.  

The government is determined to give a boost to state-owned companies and increase their transparency and efficiency.