In an exclusive interview granted to Financial Afrik, Ousmane Mamoudou KANE, Mauritanian Minister of Economic Affairs, talks about the post-pandemic recovery strategy in Mauritania and the Accelerated Growth and Shared Prosperity Strategy as well as the planned investments, in line with the ambitions of President Mohamed Ould Cheikh Ghazouani.gie de croissance accélérée et de prospérité partagée ainsi que des investissements prévus, à la mesure des ambitions affichées par le président Mohamed Ould Cheikh Ghazouani.

The adverse effects of the pandemic on the Mauritanian economy have caused a 2.2% decline in growth in 2020. Thus, an Expanded Priority Program, equivalent to about 10% of GDP, to be implemented over a period of 30 months, has been developed and adopted by the Government. It aims essentially to provide support to those most affected by the effects of the pandemic, to create jobs and to boost growth through the mobilization of the national private sector. According to Minister Ousmane Mamoudou KANE, the development of SMEs and the use of Public Private Partnerships will be at the heart of this new approach to economic development.

"After the creation of the Investment Promotion Agency in Mauritania (APIM), we are aware that the economic space needs to have investment funds, guarantee funds and a mechanism for making long-term resources available. We hope to fill these gaps in the coming months. As for PPPs, a new legislative framework has been in place since February 2021. It allows for greater fluidity in the processing of files related to such projects," he said. For the medium and long term, he recalled that Mauritania has a long-term development strategy (SCAPP - Strategy for Accelerated Growth and Shared Prosperity). It is implemented through the execution of five-year action plans. The one currently being developed will draw lessons from the pandemic and will put forward the priorities selected by the President of the Republic (sustainable and inclusive growth, human capital and solidarity with the less privileged).