Government Spokesman: The State is in the Process of Building a Media City, Part of Which Will be Dedicated to Hosting a Press House

The Minister of Culture, Arts, Communication and Relations with Parliament, Government Spokesman, Houcein Ould Medou, announced that the project to build a press house will begin soon, as the state has granted ten hectares to build a media city, one of which will be dedicated to hosting a press house

This came in response to a question in this regard while commenting on the results of the cabinet meeting on Wednesday evening at the pronouncement Hall of the headquarters of the Mauritanian News Agency in Nouakchott, accompanied by the ministers of economy, finance, energy and Petroleum.

In response to what the questioner described as the impact of some from the higher education competition, the Minister stressed that the doors are open to the complainants, and they must carry out administrative and legal procedures, and they will receive their right if they are wronged, as His Excellency the President of the Republic, Mr. Mohamed Ould Cheikh El Ghazouani, is keen to bring the administration closer to the citizens, citing the cancellation of the competition organized by the National Social Security Fund, which turned out to be marred by regulatory violations, and the inspection is now continuing in the competition of the National Water Company.

For his part, Minister of Economy and Finance Sid’Ahmed Ould Bouh said that the draft law on the statute of the Central Bank of Mauritania, approved by the Council of Ministers today, will make a qualitative leap in the work of the Central Bank by introducing new reforms in line with the requirements of the new life (technological development) of the government of the financial system.

He stressed that the project aims to introduce several reforms, such as the distribution of the functions and powers of the bank by establishing a new deliberative body (the Council of Payment Systems), and enhancing the independence and transparency of the bank as the first money issuing institution in the country, by appointing three deputy governors of the bank, as is the case in many countries, to enable the institution to perform its tasks as required, in addition to establishing advisory councils.

The Minister touched on the context in which this project was mentioned, such as the development of digital payment methods technologies, and the need to ensure their ability to confront fraud, in addition to enhancing the flexibility of payment methods and making them more convenient, and adopting the best mechanisms to track payment methods, so that citizens are assured of their transactions.

Regarding the statement on the measures related to the implementation of the restructuring of the SOMELEC Group, which he presented in partnership with the Minister of Energy and Petroleum, he stressed that the statement aims to continue the company’s work of ensuring the provision of electricity service to citizens in an easy and better manner, which can only happen through fundamental changes, some of which are specific to the mentality of the citizens themselves.

The Minister said that the plan adopted by the Council of Ministers to develop the company’s work is based on several basic axes, such as organizing the company’s contracting program with the state so that it is controlled, and improving the company’s resources, especially in the face of fraud operations that prevailed in recent decades, to meet the challenges faced by the company in order to secure this vital service in the life of the citizen and in the national economy.

For his part, the Minister of Energy and Petroleum, Mr. Mohamed Ould Khaled, said that the statement on the measures related to the implementation of the restructuring of the SOMELEC Group discussed the technical and financial situation of the company and identified aspects related to access to electricity service and methods of distribution, as well as the performance of the company and improving its service.

He stressed that the statement prepared a plan to reform the institution, and His Excellency the President of the Republic issued instructions to mobilize the necessary resources for this, with the need to implement the plan within the specified deadlines, noting that the company has not made any increase in electricity prices since 2019 despite the significant increase in fuel prices.

In response to a question about the increase in fuel prices, the Minister confirmed that the state’s support for fuel prices is still continuing and will continue, as the state currently pays for each liter of diesel 52 old Ouguiyas and 1160 old Ouguiyas for the large bottle of domestic gas.