AfDB and Mauritania Boost Private Sector Financing Cooperation in Nouakchott

The Mauritanian Investment Promotion Agency, in partnership with the African Development Bank, organized a workshop in Nouakchott on Wednesday to review the financing mechanisms and instruments offered by the Bank to support private sector projects in Mauritania.
This workshop aims to enhance cooperation between regional financial institutions and local economic stakeholders, thereby fostering investment and supporting the country’s economic development initiatives.
In his address, the Minister of Economic Affairs and Development, Mr. Abdallah Suleiman Sheikh Sidiya, emphasized that the meeting represents a valuable opportunity to identify priority projects eligible for financing, mobilize the necessary resources, and strengthen constructive dialogue between the public and private sectors. He stressed that such collaboration is essential for building sustainable partnerships that contribute to advancing national economic development.
The Minister further highlighted Mauritania’s strategic advantages, noting its wealth of promising investment opportunities and abundant natural resources across high value-added sectors. These include extractive and manufacturing industries, renewable energy—particularly green hydrogen—agriculture and agribusiness, marine resources, and a steadily expanding services sector.
For his part, the Director General of the Mauritanian Investment Promotion Agency, Mr. El-Tah Ahmed Maouloud, outlined that the workshop is built around three key pillars: understanding financing requirements, improving project preparation, and creating favorable conditions for accessing funding. He added that the Agency’s role has evolved beyond investment promotion to encompass project structuring and monitoring, with the objective of developing a robust pipeline of technically sound and financially viable projects.
Meanwhile, Ms. Malin Blomberg, Assistant Director General for North Africa at the African Development Bank, noted that the Bank is actively working to raise awareness among investors about its innovative financing instruments. These tools are designed to support transformative projects in areas such as mineral processing, renewable energy development, energy infrastructure, and sustainable value chains. She also underscored the Bank’s commitment to supporting small and medium-sized enterprises through commercial banks and its broader role in strengthening the African private sector.