President of Republic Receives UNPM Executive Bureau
On Thursday as part of Mauritania’s policies of openness and partnership between the public and private sectors, and in line with his vision to build a national economy founded on value creation and job generation for sustainable growth, His Excellency the President of the Republic, Mr. Mohamed Ould Cheikh El-Ghazouani, received the Executive Bureau of the National Union of Mauritanian Employers (UNPM), led by Mr. Mohamed Zeine El Abidine Ould Cheikh Ahmed, at the Presidential Palace in Nouakchott.
At the start of the meeting, His Excellency congratulated the Executive Bureau of the National Union of Mauritanian Employers, and through them all national private actors, for their significant achievements towards food sovereignty. The President expressed his satisfaction with the private sector’s crucial role as a key driver of the national economy and an effective contributor to the country’s economic development, reaffirming his continuous availability to provide necessary support to its stakeholders.
The meeting served as an opportunity to inform national private sector representatives about several initiatives aimed at improving the business climate. These include simplifying administrative procedures by facilitating institutional setup, creating a supportive infrastructure, and strengthening transparency through fundamental reforms that have made the business environment more equitable and encouraged productive investment. The goal is to build a more competitive economy capable of creating value and employment opportunities for youth.
His Excellency underscored that all major structural projects completed, production means provided, reforms evaluated, and immense opportunities offered by future prospects—particularly those from dozens of large projects under construction and the effective launch of gas exploitation—create a favorable environment for the national private sector. This will allow the private sector to play a more effective role in economic development through the establishment of manufacturing industries that create added value and employment opportunities for young people.
The President also instructed various national private sector stakeholders to develop the skills of Mauritanian youth by offering vocational training opportunities, supporting entrepreneurship, and enhancing employability in promising sectors such as agriculture, industry, and innovation.
During the meeting, His Excellency reiterated the national private sector’s role in implementing his program “My Ambition for the Homeland”, as well as the priority programs outlined within it. These include the priority program for the development of Nouakchott and the emergency program for universal access to services essential for local development. He emphasized that quality assurance and adherence to contractual deadlines are paramount in the implementation of development projects.
Members of the Executive Bureau of the National Union of Mauritanian Employers expressed great satisfaction with the meeting’s outcomes, commending the President’s responsiveness and support for the Union’s efforts to promote the national private sector.
Shortly after the meeting, Mohamed Zeine El Abidine Ould Cheikh Ahmed, President of the National Union of Mauritanian Employers, told the Mauritanian News Agency that the meeting was an opportunity to discuss the private sector’s challenges and its role in the country’s economic and social development in industry and agriculture, as well as the significant progress these areas are experiencing.
He explained that this meeting coincided with the victory of Mauritania’s candidate for the presidency of the African Development Bank. It was an opportunity to congratulate His Excellency the President of the Republic on behalf of the private sector for this great success.
The President of the National Union of Mauritanian Employers considered this success to belong to all Mauritanians, and particularly to the private sector. He noted that this event is a precedent, as it’s the first time Mauritania has been elected President of the African Development Bank Group. He congratulated the Mauritanian candidate on his victory and thanked everyone who contributed to this success.
He indicated that His Excellency the President of the Republic will give instructions in the coming days for the Prime Minister to meet with each federation separately, in the presence of the relevant minister, to discuss issues facing the private sector, with a view to holding an evaluation meeting in early July.