Follow Up - Progress to date: Mauritania

After completion of the DTIS in October 2001 a National Workshop was held in November 2001. The follow-up activities were however not satisfactory. During the December 2001 Consultative Group meeting trade received limited attention. To stimulate the follow-up process, the government organized a Round Table meeting (french PDF - 192k) in November 2002. Participants at this meeting included a number of bilateral donors and IF agencies.

During this meeting a number of priority sectors were identified including:

• International Trade Capacity Building

• Support for the Chamber of Commerce

• Customs Modernization

• Standards and Quality Control

• Support for a Trade Information Center

• Tourism

• Fisheries

Numerous donors (World Bank, ITC, European Commission, France and Spain) expressed their interest during this meeting to be willing to start project preparatory discussions with the government. The formulation of concrete project proposals should take place during thematic and sectoral meetings to be convened by the government. In April 2003 the first meetings of technical groups took place for fisheries, tourism, standards and trade capacity building.

The IFWG decided in October 2002 to fund from Window II of the IF Trust Fund a project aimed at enhancing the capacities of the Trade Promotion Directorate. This project is being executed by ITC.

It is expected that trade will be included in Mauritania’s 2003 PRSP Progress Report.

The European Commission is the IF facilitator in Mauritania.

Page Last Updated On July 12, 2005