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Country Commercial Guides for FY 2000: Mauritania Report prepared by U.S. Embassy Nouakchott, released July 1999   Note*

I. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

OVERVIEW

This Country Commercial Guide (CCG) presents a comprehensive look at Mauritania's commercial environment, using economic, political, and market analysis. CCGs were established by recommendation of the Trade Promotion Coordinating Committee (TPCC), a multi-agency task force, to consolidate various reporting documents prepared for the U.S. business community. CCGs are prepared annually at U.S. embassies through the combined efforts of several U.S. Government agencies.

Mauritania, with a territory of 1,085,760 square km, population of about 2.5M and, GDP per capita around USD 400, forms a geographical link between North Africa and Sub-Saharan Africa. It is a growing market increasingly open to American trade and investment.

The Government of the Islamic Republic of Mauritania (GIRM) made a high-level decision to encourage imports and increase the availability of goods in all localities of the country. The GIRM, with the support of the World Bank (WB) and the International Monetary Fund (IMF), has also liberalized the exchange system and begun to reform the banking sector and privatize several state-owned companies. The privatization process will continue in 1999 and 2000. The telecommunications, electricity, and air transport companies are now in the process of being privatized.

Major traders continue to import large quantities of consumer goods (rice, flour, sugar, wheat, long-life and powdered milk, and clothing), vehicles and spare parts, building equipment and materials, office equipment and supplies, cosmetics, and medicine. In 1998, the country's total imports increased by 15.5% in local currency (but decreased by 7% in USD, due to an USD/ouguiya parity increase), and U.S. exports to Mauritania increased by 36% in local currency (a 9% increase in USD). The U.S. share of total imports increased by 6.6 percent in 1998, moving it up from 4th in 1997 to 3rd among Mauritania's largest suppliers (after France and Germany). Greater equipment purchases by the state-majority-owned mining company (Société Industrielle et Minière or SNIM) accounted for most of the increase. Products purchased from the United States include mining equipment, vehicles, machinery parts and supplies, cigarettes, grains, and cosmetic products.

Mauritania's economic performance is improving; the GDP annual growth rate in 1998 was 4.2% (while the estimated continental average was 3.2%). Exports and imports as a percentage of GDP reached 40% and 44% respectively. However, the country remains dependent on financial aid flows from the World Bank (WB), European Union (EU), United Nations (UN), and other donors.

COMMERCIAL ENVIRONMENT

The commercial environment for U.S. products is favorable. The GIRM continues to encourage private investment through its privatization programs. If privatization leads to improved management, as expected, the resulting inflows of capital will further spur economic growth and development. Government priorities focus on the creation of small- and medium-size industries to produce essential goods locally and thus reduce the unemployment rate (see Labor, below). Local telecommunications, mining, fishing, tourism, and other companies are interested in join ventures with U.S. firms. Many local businesspeople seek to represent or serve as agents/distributors for U.S. companies.

MAJOR BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES

All major sectors of the Mauritanian economy (mining, fishing, agriculture, and construction) offer business opportunities for U.S. exporters. Major government projects such as the fishing sector reorganization, gold and other mineral prospecting, water supply, rural road construction and rehabilitation, telecommunications, electricity production, and irrigation technologies promise the greatest potential for U.S. companies. Local traders interested in opening new markets with advanced technologies also create opportunities for American firms.

Embassy Assistance

Embassy Nouakchott is dedicated to offering assistance and advice to American businesspeople seeking information on trade and investment opportunities in Mauritania. The embassy's economic/commercial officer or assistant can be reached Sunday-Thursday by telephone at [222] 25-26-60/63 or [222] 25-11-41/45. Commercial queries can be faxed to [222] 25-15-92. Companies seeking Mauritanian business are encouraged to copy the embassy on important correspondence.

Country Commercial Guides are available for U.S. exporters from the National Trade Data Bank on CD-ROM or through the Internet. Please contact STAT-USA at 1-800-STAT-USA for more information. GUIDELIN? Commercial Guides can be accessed via the World Wide Web at http://www.stat-usa.gov; http://1997-2001.state.gov/; and http://www.mac.doc.gov. CCGs can also be ordered in hard copy or on diskette from the National Technical Information Service (NTIS) at 1-800-553-NTIS. U.S. exporters seeking general export information/assistance and country-specific commercial information should contact the U.S. Department of Commerce's Trade information Center by phone at 1-800-USA-Trade or by fax at (202) 482-4473.