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The evolution of the world economic situation characterized by globalization and liberalization is leading –at a planetary scale- to deep mutations in the economic, monetary, financial and cultural fields.
Well aware of the impact of these mutations and in order to better manage the, the Tunisian State has launched a huge program for the upgrading/leveling of all sectors of the national economy and especially of the banking sector aiming at making all banks ready to face the new conjuncture.
Four different types of actions were undertaken. They are mainly :
1. LAUNCHING OF A NUMBER OF NATIONAL PROJECTS
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The modernization of the banks information systems ;
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The modernization of electronic banking ;
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The setting-out of national Tunisian electronic clearing system.
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The creation of centres for electronic back-up ;
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The dematerialization of the foreign trade title (single bundle) ;
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The creation of collection companies ;
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The setting-up of trading sites for the development of electronic commerce ;
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The creation of an Information Exchange at the Central Bank of Tunisia (BCT) ;
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The creation of a company for the transportation of funds ;
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The revision of the juridical and legal frameworks and the enactment of new laws (credit titles, electronic signature…).
2. A NUMBER OF ACCOMPANING MEASURES WERE ALSO DECIDED
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A plan of quality assurance was adopted ;
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The preparing of human resources to face the expected changes and the working tools and methods ;
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The adoption of training programs.
The implementation of the national Tunisian electronic clearing system represents a crucial turn for the modernization of the banking system because of the changes operated, and which are :
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The suppression of physical exchanges of securities,
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The finalization of compensation operations within a delay of two working days and
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The remote consultation of images of cheques and normalized bills of exchange.
This is the framework that led to the creation of SIBTEL. In order to make its presentation, we met its Director General, Mr. Abdelkrim GDOUDA.
Question: Under which circumstances was SIBTEL born?
In 1996 and on recommendation of His Excellency the President of the Republic Zine El Abidine Ben Ali, The Central Bank of Tunisia (BCT) launched a reflection project about the ways to upgrade the Tunisian banking sector. Ten specialized sub-commissions were set up, under the supervision of the BCT. An entire group of strategic projects were identified, among which the system of remote compensation.
The setting-out and the management of the Tunisian electronic clearing system were placed under the responsibility of SIBTEL
SIBTEL was founded on November 1, 1999 by the Central Bank of Tunisia, 11 banks (Société Tunisienne de Banque, Banque Internationale Arabe de Tunisie, Banque Nationale Agricole, Banque de Tunisie, Banque du Sud, Union Bancaire pour le Commerce et l’Industrie, Amen Bank, Union Internationale de Banques, Arab Tunisian Bank, Banque de l’Habitat, CITIBANK), The Tunisian la Poste and Tunisie Telecom.
SIBTEL is presently offering services of remote compensation to 24 members (Central Bank of Tunisia, The founding banks, la Poste of Tunisia, Arab Banking Corporation, Beit Ettamouil Saoudi Tounsi (BEST bank)i, Banque Franco-Tunisienne, Banque Tuniso-Koweitienne de Développement (BTKD), Banque Tuniso-Libyenne (BTL), Tunisan Qatari Bank, Banque Tunisienne de Solidarité (BTS), North Africa International Bank, Société Tuniso-Saoudienne d’Investissement et de Developpement (STUSID), Tunis International Bank and the Tunisia Emirates Bank (BTE) and this is done in conformity with the clauses mentioned in its status, to articles related to compensation of the payment means and to the conventions that may be established with the Central Bank of Tunisia.
Question : Can you tell us more about the Tunisian electronic clearing system ?
First, it is worth mentioning that in order to guarantee all conditions of success to the concretization of the Tunisian electronic clearing system, the following strategic goals were defined :
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Suppression of the physical exchange of securities
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Remote compensation is finalized through electronic recordings,
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Exchange of computerized data and scanned images of the securities to be compensated
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Consultation of scanned images in the electronic archiving register,
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Setting-up of an inter-banking system that leads to a boosted cooperation between the member institutions as well as a better control of costs.
Then, let us note down that within the framework of the conditions guaranteeing the success of this ambitious project, it was proceeded to:
Concerning the stages of the electronic clearing system, it is to be pointed out that the said system ensures –as given in a prior planning program- operations of processing and exchanges of electronic data related to the securities to be compensated and to scanned images of cheques and standardized bills of exchange. All this process is done thanks to network for the remote communication of data.
The power of the electronic clearing system as well as capacity of progression lay on the use of new technologies and a high performing and secure network.
It is obvious that this system has enabled to profit from the advantages of the mutualisation of investments, the modernization of the banks “back offices” and has favoured the development of new practises as well as a better mastering of financial transactions.
Question : Then, we can say that SIBTEL is playing an important role for the banks. Are there any more details concerning the way SIBTEL is operating?
As a real technological crossroad, SIBTEL draws its strength from the selective partnership that it succeeded to entertain with local services and computer engineering companies.
SIBTEL also ensures the follow-up of the electronic clearing system and extends its support to users round the clock seven days per week.
Question: What are the achievements of SIBTEL and are there any other missions allotted to it for realisation?
Because of the success it reached in the performance of the tasks it was called to deal with and since SIBTEL was always keen to better serve the banking sector, all its partners and adherents expressed their entire confidence.
Well armed with this confidence and expertise SIBTEL continues to work for the reinforcement of its key role in the inter-banks relations. This has led to the assignment of the following new missions by SIBTEL :
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The setting-up of a clearing emergency site,
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The connection of the SWIFT member banks in Tunisia to the SWIFT-Net in its quality as « SWIFT Service Bureau»,
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The supply –in favour of its member adherents- of training sessions as a Licensed Training Centre in order to encourage the sharing of experiences, to improve the level of competences and to adapt to technological evolutions.
Question : What are the future perspectives of SIBTEL ?
In its eagerness to meet the future needs of the banking sector, SIBTEL has programmed the following projects :
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The acquisition of the status of legal electronic “archiver” for cheques and bills of exchange
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Electronic Clearing will take place over multiple sessions daily.
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The realisation of an inter-banks external network to offer services at added value to all its adherents.
Question : What are the key dates of SIBTEL ?
| Dec 1996 |
The Public Authorities decided to launch a wide upgrading program for the banking sector |
| Nov 1998 |
Conception of the national electronic clearing system |
| Nov 1999 |
Creation of SIBTEL |
| Dec 1999 |
Start-up of the clearing of money transfers and withdrawals |
| Juin 2002 |
Starting of clearing of cheques using scanned images |
| Oct 2002 |
Starting of clearing of bills of exchange based on electronic entries |
| Nov 2003 |
Starting of clearing of standardized bills of exchange using the scanned images system | | 
