3.1 IMPORTATIONS
3.1.1. GLOBAL
Mauritania, not having a developed industrial sector, imports all kinds of products in the consumption chain: from food products (a good part of its basic needs) to capital goods.
The main suppliers to Mauritania are China, the Netherlands, France, Algeria and Spain.
Main products: refined petroleum (16.6%); machines and mechanical devices related to the execution of mining and infrastructure projects (12%); electrical appliances and equipment (6%) cereals (5.1%).
Regarding imported services, consulting and engineering stand out in the context of investment projects in mining and infrastructure.
3.1.2 FROM SPAIN AND THE EU
The diversification of imports from Spain is maintained (136.8 M € in 2015), highlighting the following chapters:
Spain ranked second among EU suppliers (with 18.5% of European exports); after France (24.6%).
It should be added that European exports are diversified, highlighting the following chapters: Machines and mechanical devices (20%); Cereals (10.1%); Mineral fuels and oils (7.9%); Cereal products and pastries (5.7%); Milk, dairy products, eggs (5.5%); and pharmaceutical products (5.3%).
The main markets for Mauritania are China (iron ore), Switzerland (gold), Italy and Spain (fishing).
Main products: minerals, slag and ash (49.7%), among which iron stands out; precious stones and metals (11.2%); crustaceans and molluscs (26%).
3.2.2 TO SPAIN AND THE EU
As for exports to Spain (178.8 M € in 2015), Mauritania's leading customer within the EU (with 37.1% of the total), they are highly concentrated in the chapter of fish, Crustaceans and molluscs (94.9%), followed far behind by: Food industry waste (2.6%).
European imports revolve around the Crustaceans and molluscs chapters (45%) - chapter of which Spain is the main customer -; Minerals, slag and ash (34%); followed by fuels and mineral oils (9.6%).
3.3 TOURISM
The authorities consider tourism as one of the priority sectors of their poverty reduction strategy and have encouraged private investments with favorable measures for investments that help to create new tourist destinations in the south of the country and in the reserves. natural.
Mauritania presents great possibilities, with 720 km of coastline, protected natural parks and good weather for most of the year.
3.4 FOREIGN INVESTMENT
3.4.1 INVESTMENT REGIME
In May 2012, a new Investment Code entered into force, which guarantees certain rights to investors and also created “special economic zones”.
For its part, the World Bank's Doing Business 2016 report positions it as one of the greatest reformists (like its neighbor Senegal), thanks to the facilitation of business creation, the digitization of administration and reduction of bureaucracy.
To facilitate investment, the government has created the single window or "Single Window". To invest in Mauritania, you must obtain the Investment Certificate, by submitting the investment proposal and all the required documents.The one-stop-shop centralizes the required formalities, from orientation and information to reception and instruction of applications.
3.4.2 FOREIGN INVESTMENT BY COUNTRY AND SECTORS
From a sector perspective, foreign direct investment is concentrated in export-oriented extractive industries, both iron and gold mines, among other minerals and hydrocarbons (oil and gas), where the main investments come from Canada, UK. , Australia and Switzerland. Likewise, the strength of countries like China, India, South Africa, Algeria, Morocco and Tunisia is observed.
Apart from the extractive industries, France remains the leading investor, with interests in the sectors of agriculture, banking, cement, commercial distribution, transport and services. France is followed by Spain and Turkey.
Some international investment projects include the construction of housing and hotels, land infrastructure, mining operations, a new refinery, and port expansion.