WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION  RESTRICTED 
WT/TPR/G/250 
5 September 2011 
 (11-4331) 
Trade Policy Review Body Original:   French 
   
 
  
 
TRADE POLICY REVIEW 
 
Report by 
 
MAURITANIA 
 
  
 
Pursuant to the Agreement Establishi ng the Trade Policy Review Mechanism 
(Annex 3 of the Marrakesh Agreement Establishing the World Trade 
Organization), the policy statement by Mauritania is attached. 
 
 
Note: This report is subject to restricted ci rculation and press embargo until the end of the 
first session of the meeting of the Trade Policy Review Body on Mauritania. Mauritania WT/TPR/G/250 
 Page 3 
 
 
  CONTENTS 
 
  Page 
I.  OVERVIEW  5 
II.  ECONOMIC ENVIRONMENT 5  
 (1)   MAIN FEATURES OF THE ECONOMY  5  
III.  TRADE POLICY 6 
 (1)   TREND IN FOREIGN TRADE  6  
 (2)   TRADE REGIME  6  
 (3)   FRAMEWORK FOR TRADE POLICY FORMULATION AND IMPLEMENTATION  7  
 (i)   Trade legislation and regulations 8  
 (ii)   The Investment Code an d the business climate 8  
 (iii)   Multilateral agreements 8  
 (4)   SECTORAL TRADE POLICY OBJECTIVES  8  
 (i)   Mining 9  
 (ii)   Fisheries 9  
 (iii)   Agriculture and livestock 10  
 (iv)   Tourism 11  
 (v)   Telecommunications 11  
 (vi)   Transport 12  
IV.  CONCLUSION  12 
V.  TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND CAPACITY BUILDING 13  
 
ANNEX  15 
 Mauritania WT/TPR/G/250 
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  I. OVERVIEW 
1. The Islamic Republic of Mauritania is situated  in north-west Africa, covering an area of 
1,031,000 km2 - four fifths of which are desert - and has a population of 3.2 million.  Population 
density is around three inhabitants per square kilome tre.  The annual rate of demographic growth is 
approximately 3 per cent, life expectancy is 56 .6 years and the literacy rate among adults 
(over 15 years old) is 55.8 per cent. 
2. Despite a difficult international context, si nce 2008 the Mauritanian Government's economic 
policy has been to promote growth.  Economic activi ties have received support,  in particular, through 
expansion of credit, a substantial increase in exports and recovery in industrial activities. 
3. In order to create an environment conducive to  strong and sustainable economic growth, the 
Government has adopted the third action plan  for the 2011-2015 Poverty Reduction Strategy 
Paper (PRSP), whose implementation will enable Ma uritania to achieve the following:  (i) average 
annual growth of 5.5 per cent in GDP, excluding petr oleum;  (ii) bring the inflation rate down to 
under 5 per cent;  (iii) decrease the budget deficit to 5.6 per cent of GDP, excluding petroleum, on 
average over the period concerned;  and (iv) increase foreign currency reserves up to the equivalent of 
four months of imports by 2015. 
4. The Government's economic policy has receiv ed support from our development partners, 
notably with the signature of an economic programme  with the International Monetary Fund and the 
organization of a round table that led to the mobilization of over US$3 billion. 
II. ECONOMIC ENVIRONMENT 
(1) MAIN FEATURES OF THE ECONOMY  
5. Since the previous review of Mauritania's tr ade policy, the country's economy has performed 
relatively well.  The discovery of oilfields and gr owing exploitation of mini ng products (iron ore, gold 
and copper) have radically changed the country's gr owth dynamics.  The economy is highly dependent 
on the mining sector which accounted for almost 75 per cent of exports in 2010, but less than 3 per cent of jobs. 
6. The services sector provided the main impetus for this growth, namely, transport and 
telecommunications, trade, restaurants and hotels and other private services, which contributed 1.6 per cent to growth over this period, or almost ha lf the average global rate of growth (3.7 per cent).  
For several years, most economic activities have been  within this sector and the services sector has 
played an increasingly important role in the economy. 
7. Although it had a catalytic role in the growth achieved (contributing 1.1 points), the 
industrial sector, after having shown a strong increase of over 33 per cent in 2006 with the start-up of 
petroleum exploitation, showed a downward tr end over the period 2007-2009 (-4.5 per cent on 
average) because of the counter-p erformance in the petroleum sector from 2007 onwards and the poor 
performance of the construction and public works s ubsector, especially in 2008 and 2009, as a result 
of the slow-down in the pace of infrastructure project s owing to decreased flows of external financing 
following the various institutional changes in the coun try over this period.  This counter-performance 
was, however, mitigated by expansion in the copper a nd gold subsectors, which grew by an average of 
150 per cent and 279 per cent, respectively, over the period 2007-2009. WT/TPR/G/250 Trade Policy Review 
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  8. The primary sector (the rural sector), on which over 60 per cent of the Mauritanian population 
depends, made the least contribution to global gr owth (0.6 points) over the period, following poor 
rainfall, as well as the low level of integration of the livestock and fisheries subsectors in the 
economy. 
III. TRADE POLICY 
(1) TREND IN FOREIGN TRADE  
9. Mauritania's economy benefited from a significan t rebound in the prices of its major export 
products (iron ore, copper and gold), in parallel with the recovery in  the global economic situation and 
an increased volume of production. 
10. Although the current transactions balance had recorded a serious deficit for a number of 
years, in 2006 it had a surplus of 6 to 9 per cent of  GDP.  Foreign trade amounted to €1.471 billion, an 
increase of 34 per cent in comparison with the previ ous year.  Exports amounted to €923 million, an 
increase of 66 per cent, particularly because of higher oil prices.  Imports rose by 27 per cent. 
11. This trend continued in 2008 when Mauritania' s exports amounted to €1.60 billion and its 
imports to a total of €1.67 billion.  The improveme nt in the trade balance was, however, unable to 
withstand the impact of the crisis.  Following a dr op in exports of iron and other mineral ores in 
2009 and 2010, the trade balance has remained ne gative in 2011 because of the increase in imports. 
12. Iron ore and fisheries products are the two ma jor exports and account for 36.8 per cent and 
14.1 per cent, respectively, while crude oil represents 5.2 per cent. 
13. The majority of imports consist of equipmen t for the mining and oil industries, capital goods, 
vehicles and food products. 
14. Mauritania's main clients are China, Italy, France, Belgium and Spain. 
15. The major suppliers are France, China, the United States, Belgium and Spain.  Mauritania has 
few trade contracts with other African countries and Egypt is its 19th largest supplier. 
(2) TRADE REGIME  
16. Since the previous review of its trade policy in 2002, Mauritania, with the support of its 
development partners, has gradually consolidated  its economic reforms so as to make its economy 
more competitive and to become more closely in tegrated into the global economy, thereby improving 
its population's well-being. 
17. The PRSP, which was drawn up in the course of  a participatory process that included all 
stakeholders, today constitutes the reference fra mework for all the country's economic, trade and 
social policies.  The PRSP makes economic growth  the foremost priority for the poverty reduction 
strategy. 
18. The tools for achieving such growth include, inter alia , the development of natural assets, 
human resources and infrastructure, together with the introduction of soun d macroeconomic policies 
and closer integration in the global market. Mauritania WT/TPR/G/250 
 Page 7 
 
 
  19. The overall objectives set by the Government under this trade policy are: 
(1) To encourage the development of business within a secure legal framework consistent 
with international standards; 
 
(2) to continue adapting national regula tions to those in force in the WTO; 
 
(3) to facilitate rapid adjustment to econom ic trends by making labour legislation more 
flexible; 
 
(4) to combat fraud and corruption; 
 
(5) to boost the modernization and efficiency of all business services; 
 
(6) to promote the upgrading of technical skills among the local labour force; 
 
(7) to intensify the creation and rehab ilitation of zones equipped for industry; 
 
(8) to continue equipping zones deve loped for various activities;  and 
 
(9) to promote a reduction in transport costs. 
 
(3) FRAMEWORK FOR TRADE POLICY FORMULATION AND IMPLEMENTATION  
20. The Ministry of Trade is responsible for drafting and implementing trade policy, in 
collaboration with the competent government departments and institutions, including: 
- Ministry of Finance; 
 
- Ministry responsible for development; 
 
- Ministry of Fisheries and the Maritime Economy; 
 
- Ministry of Petroleum, Mining and Energy; 
 
- Ministry of Rural Development;  and 
 
- Central Bank of Mauritania. 
 
21. As regards regional and multilateral trade ne gotiations, the Government has set up an 
inter-institutional consultative commission on intern ational trade responsible for following up and 
implementing the WTO Agreements, and a national EPA steering committee for the negotiations on 
the Economic Partnership Agreem ent (EPA) between the European Union and the West African 
region.  These bodies are composed of the public sector , the private sector and civil society working 
closely together and: 
(1) Provide a platform for consultation to assi st trade policy-related decision-making and to 
ensure coordination of the legislative and institutional amendments needed to comply with the commitments undertaken under bilateral, regional and multilateral trade 
agreements;  and WT/TPR/G/250 Trade Policy Review 
Page 8 
  
   
(2) serve as a forum for examining and pr oposing negotiating positions and monitoring 
consistency with bilateral, regi onal and multilateral trade objectives. 
 (i) Trade legislation and regulations 
22. There have been no significant changes to trade legislation and regulations since the previous 
review of trade policy in 2002. 
23. Mauritania has recently adopted a law - Law No. 2010-003 of 14 January 2010 - on 
standardization and quality promotion. 
24. Standardization, certification and accreditati on activities are coordinated and monitored by 
the Minister responsible for industry.  The nationa l standardization, metrology and quality promotion 
system consists of the following bodies: 
- Mauritanian Accreditation Committee, res ponsible for advising on applications for 
accreditation of certification bodies;  and 
 
- National Standardization and Metrology Office, responsible for implementing the 
national standardization, certification and metrology policy. 
 25. The National Standardization Office has not been set up;  ten mandatory standards have been 
adopted;  the national laboratories will be respons ible for conformity assessment;  the Mauritanian 
accreditation system is planned for 2013;  checks at  the border are more for the purposes of applying 
SPS regulations. 
(ii) The Investment Code and the business climate 
26. The new Investment Code drafted by th e Government will shortly be adopted. 
27. The adoption and implementation of the strategy  to develop the private sector, the upgrading 
of the industrial sector and the introduction of  economic development zones, as well as enhanced 
dialogue with the private sector on all issues concerning its development, constitute priorities for 
government action. 
(iii) Multilateral agreements 
28. Mauritania is convinced that the Agreement est ablishing the WTO will serve the interests of 
the developing countries in general and of the least de veloped countries in particular.  This is why it 
attaches great importance to the conclusion of th e Doha Round negotiations as a means of mitigating 
the impact of the global economic crisis and build ing an open and fair trading system capable of 
reviving growth and reducing poverty.  It remain s convinced that stepping up assistance to the 
developing countries will enable them to deri ve greater benefits from these Agreements. 
(4) S
ECTORAL TRADE POLICY OBJECTIVES  
29. With a view to making better use of the growth  potential in those sectors that are the driving 
force of the economy (mining, fisheries, tourism and crafts), the 2006-2010 PRSP was based on the most effective sectoral policies. Mauritania WT/TPR/G/250 
 Page 9 
 
 
  (i) Mining 
30. As part of the implementation of the second action plan under the PRSP, the following have 
been the main achievements in the mining sector: 
(i) Improved legal and regulatory framework, including the 2008 Mining Law, revised in 
2009, as well as the preparation of its implementing texts; 
 
(ii) institutional reform, notably the creation of the department of Mining Police for the 
inspection and control of activities by mining operators and the institutional 
strengthening of mining administration structures; 
 
(iii) enhanced geological infrastructure, espec ially the aerial geophysical survey covering 
72 per cent of the country, the 1:500000 geological survey of the whole country and the 1:200000 survey for the most promising areas from the metallogenic standpoint, covering 56 per cent of the country; 
 
(iv) mining promotion, with efforts made to promote awareness among mining operators 
and foreign investors through effective participation in numerous regional and 
international events, together with support for the foreign investors concerned visiting 
Mauritania in order to explain the business climate and mining potential in our country;  and 
 
(v) mining prospection, exploration, de velopment and exploitation, with over 
150 exploration permits granted to some 50 mining operators. 
 31. The Government has set as its main objective th e continuation of these efforts to reinforce the 
role of this important export sector, as an engine  for the economy's growth and for poverty reduction. 
32. To achieve this, the following priority actions will be taken: 
(i) Diversifying activities by seeking new mining resources to be exploited; 
 
(ii) expanding mining production by bringing new mines into operation and extending 
existing mines; 
 
(iii) doubling the volume of investment in exploration;  and 
 
(iv) creating 15,000 jobs in  the mining sector by 2015. 
 (ii) Fisheries 
33. The Government has adopted a fisheries polic y aimed at protecting fisheries resources and 
integrating them within the framework of  national development strategy objectives. 
34. The following are the overall objectives in the fisheries sector:  (i) the most efficient 
management possible and sustainable revenue;  and (i i) closer integration of the sector in the economy 
in order to utilize to the full the socio-economic bene fits that can be derived from all its branches.  
This sector should then play a catalytic role in combating food insecurity. WT/TPR/G/250 Trade Policy Review 
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  35. To achieve the aforementioned objectives, government action will focus on efforts to 
implement the following priority programmes:  (i) the construction of four integrated hubs for the 
development of small-scale and coastal fishing along th e southern coast;  (ii) expansion of the port at 
Nouadhibou;  (iii) the establishment of a deve lopment hub for the small-scale fishing port;  and 
(iv) the building of a fisheries complex in Nouadhibou. 
(iii) Agriculture and livestock 
36. The rural sector (agriculture and livestock) plays a dual role in the country's development, the 
one economic through its contribution to the creatio n of value added and accelerated growth, and the 
other social, in rural areas, which is where the largest number of poor people are to be found in 
Mauritania. 
37. As regards agriculture, the long-term global ob jective is to make it modern, productive and 
competitive in national, regional and international markets. 
38. To achieve these objectives, action will focus on two aspects:  development of irrigated 
agriculture and development of pub lic-private partnerships (PPPs). 
39. The development of irrigated agriculture:  th e growth potential goal would be reached by 
promoting rice-growing on at least 45,000 hectares a nd encouraging the diversification of agricultural 
production by introducing fruit, vegetabl e and feed crops and agro-forestry. 
40. The promotion of PPPs:  these are an innovativ e way of financing development.  They 
provide a means of increasing and diversifying ag ricultural production and transferring technology for 
the benefit of farmers.  Such partnerships have st arted to be implemented w ith private investors for 
the introduction of wheat, groundnuts and sugar. 
41. Accordingly, over the next five years, the following action will be taken: 
(i) Drafting of a master irrigation plan to  develop agricultural sectors with potential 
(rice, market gardening, etc.) and for the milk and poultry breeding subsectors in the 
zone to be irrigated;  and 
 
(ii) developing over 30,000 hectares to grow  wheat, potatoes, onions and alfalfa;  sugar 
cane. 
 42. In the livestock subsector, the objective is to in tegrate it more closely in the economy, while 
at the same time reinforcing its strategic role in  relation to food security and combating poverty. 
43. To achieve these objectives, the following action will be taken: 
(i) Implementation of a national  livestock development programme; 
 
(ii) introduction of livestock credits to pr ovide an appropriate financial service; 
 
(iii) project to build an agro-pastoral complex (dairy plant, modern abattoir, tannery, etc.); 
 
(iv) building of a quality control laboratory for products of animal origin; 
 
(v) national animal health programme; Mauritania WT/TPR/G/250 
 Page 11 
 
 
   
(vi) programme to raise productivity in the an imal herd through artificial insemination;  
and 
 
(vii) and (vii) capacity-building programme  for public and private stakeholders. 
 
(iv) Tourism 
44. In the area of tourism, because of its geographical  situation, the diversity of its landscape and 
its rich cultural and natural her itage, Mauritania has real touris m potential.  Consequently, the 
Government's ambition for the coming five years is  to promote this sector so as to develop its 
potential for creating jobs and combating poverty,  while observing the principles of sustainable 
development. 
45. This objective is to be achieved by means of the following priority measures: 
(i) Establishment of basic infrastructure, esp ecially in relation to training, with the 
creation of a hotel school; 
 
(ii) diversification of the supply of tour ism services by launching new destinations; 
 
(iii) creation of a support fund for providing tr aining to local operators;  (iv) introduction 
of appropriate financing mechanisms and fiscal incentives;  (iv) support for 
sustainable tourism with high value added for the local population and local tourism; 
 
(iv) creation of "ecolodges" in natural parks;  and  
 
(v) widespread promotion of Mauritania as a destination. 
 (v) Telecommunications 
46. With regard to telecommunications, the acti on taken to develop the telecommunications 
infrastructure and the use of ICT, to strengthen th e institutional framework and competition, as well as 
the quality of services, has led the Government  to set the following main objectives for the 
period 2011-2015: 
(i) To increase Mauritania's global connec tivity and the use of ICT services; 
 
(ii) to use information systems to the full; 
 
(iii) to increase ICT support for health and education; 
 
(iv) to upgrade postal services;  and 
 
(v) to provide the sector with better guidance. 
 47. Achievement of these objectives will enable the communications infrastructure to be 
strengthened, the development of online services an d easier electronic transactions, and will promote 
Mauritania's access to the information society. WT/TPR/G/250 Trade Policy Review 
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  48. Over the period 2011-2015, it is intended to carry out the following priority actions: 
(i) A submarine cable connection to the global network in order to guarantee 
Mauritania's connectivity; 
 
(ii) national connectivity using fibre op tics in certain towns in the interior; 
 
(iii) establishment of a fund to disseminate use of ICT and to build capacity, with the aim 
of developing the digital economy; 
 
(iv) implementation of special programmes to promote the use of ICT; 
 
(v) development of tele-medicine and remote learning projects in order to provide more 
ICT support for the health and education systems;  and 
 
(vi) development of postal services to cover all regions in the country. 
 
49. In addition, the action plan for this sector  provides for the renewal of the programmes 
proposed for the previous period.  Attention will focus on the "e-Enterprises", "e-Tijara" and 
"ICT enterprise creation" programmes, whose progress to date has been very limited.  They will be 
implemented in close coordination with the global strategy for support to SMEs. 
(vi) Transport 
50. The infrastructure sector constitutes an important  challenge for development, as regards both 
economic growth and poverty reduction. 
51. The policy implemented by the Government in  this area involves an ambitious modern 
infrastructure programme that responds to the c ountry's economic development, environmental and 
social needs. 
IV. CONCLUSION 
52. Reinforcement of the multilateral system will rema in a priority in Mauritania's endeavours to 
establish an efficient and equitable internationa l economic and trading framework.  In the global 
financial crisis, Mauritania will spare no effort to ensure that the Doha Round negotiations reach a 
successful conclusion in order to mitigate the impact  of the crisis by devel oping international trade. 
53. The special feature of the Doha Agenda is  to place development at the heart of the 
multilateral trade negotiations.  Accordingly, Maur itania strongly hopes that the outcome of this 
Round of negotiations will make a s ubstantial contribution to the count ry's effective integration into 
international trade and, as a result, to its deve lopment, which is essentia l for poverty reduction. 
54. The issues of special interest to Mauritania in this Round are: 
- Services; 
- trade facilitation; - rules;  and - technical assistance and Aid For Trade. Mauritania WT/TPR/G/250 
 Page 13 
 
 
   
55. Because of our country's potential in the area of services , Mauritania supports the proposals 
put forward by the LDC Group and hopes that the negotiations on mode 4 will offer market access 
opportunities in this respect. 
56. Trade facilitation  is of particular interest to Mauritania as a country of transit.  Numerous 
reforms are under way at the national level follo wing the evaluation of the country's needs and 
priorities.  Some of the commitments resulti ng from the negotiations on trade facilitation cannot, 
however, be put into effect as their nature and sc ope requires until the necessary substantial technical 
assistance and capacity building have been provided. 
57. As a least developed country, Mauritania att aches prime importance to issues related to 
technical assistance and Aid For Trade. 
V. TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND CAPACITY BUILDING 
58. Since the previous review of its trade policy in 2002, Mauritania has embarked upon a series 
of institutional and structural reforms aimed at encouraging the emergenc e of a prosperous and 
competitive economy.  The reforms set out in its PRSP include most of the recommendations in the 
Diagnostic Trade Integration Study (DTIS). 
59. According to the DTIS report, entitled " Stratégie commerciale centrée sur la pauvreté " 
(Poverty-focused trade strategy), the strategy's f our main cross-cutting thrusts were the following:  
(i) diversifying exports;  (ii) improving the comp etitiveness of the economy;  (iii) facilitating trade 
through customs reform;  and (iv) institutional stre ngthening of the bodies involved in foreign trade. 
60. The DTIS also identified the key factors pr eventing the supply of  goods and services from 
adjusting to international demand in four sectors with strong potential for accelerating growth and 
reducing poverty:  fisheries, agriculture, livestock and tourism. 
61. This strategy was adopted in April 2002 and set out in an action plan identifying the 
cross-cutting and sectoral measures to be implem ented in the short, medium and long terms. 
62. The action plan, in particular its priority portf olio of nine projects, was presented to a round 
table of donors, organized in November 2002, w ith a view to mobilizing the necessary financing. 
63. Five years after the adoption of this first trad e strategy and its action plan, the Government 
decided to evaluate and update the strategy. 
64. A new updated trade strategy for the period 2007-2015, consistent with the PRSP, was 
therefore drawn up and validated at a national workshop organized on 18 April 2007, and an action 
plan, with a priority portfolio of 12 projects, was developed in November 2008. 
65. As far as possible, the priorities and objectives in the PRSP were reviewed from the 
standpoint of international trade and translated  into priority measures and actions whose 
implementation will make it possible to strengthen some of the options in the PRSP. 
66. In the light of the detailed evaluation of the implementation of the 2001 strategy and 
developments in the national economy and its exte rnal sector, the updated trade strategy provides a 
precise diagnosis of the situation of Mauritania's economy in terms of competitiveness, constraints on 
the development of trade and promising sectors for trade to boost growth and reduce poverty. WT/TPR/G/250 Trade Policy Review 
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  67. Based on this diagnosis, the updated trade strate gy proposes a series of cross-cutting measures 
and measures specific to five priority sectors, name ly, fisheries, agriculture, livestock, tourism and 
industry.  (The measures proposed are listed in the annex.) 
68. The trade strategy identifies a portfolio of 12 pr ojects, listed in the annex, the financing of 
which can be covered using the resources of the Enhanced Integrated Framework (EIF), from which 
Mauritania benefits like other least developed country  WTO Members.  This portfolio of projects is 
currently being updated with support from UNDP. Mauritania WT/TPR/G/250 
 Page 15 
 
 
  ANNEX 1 
 
 Measures proposed in the 2007-2015 trade strategy 
 1. The cross-cutting measures can be seen as so ma ny challenges to be overcome by Mauritania 
in order to derive greater benefits from interna tional trade and so boost gr owth and reduce poverty.  
They are organized as macro-objectives: 
 Improve the regulatory environment  through measures intended to introduce, and 
ensure compliance with, international quality standards, to increase market 
competition and to provide incentives to improve the efficiency of infrastructure, 
lessen constraints and lower the high costs of inputs. 
 
 Reduce vulnerability to external shocks by diversifying exports  through convergent 
approaches, aimed in particular at:  (i) seeking access to new markets;  (ii) exploiting the comparative advantages not utilized in  the fisheries, lives tock, agriculture, 
tourism and industry sectors;  and (iii) prioritizing agro-industry for the processing of 
commodities, and cautiously integrating the informal sector into the modern economy. 
 
 Successfully complete the negotiations on the EU-ECOWAS+Mauritania EPA :  
a national EPA committee comprising leading representatives of the private sector and government authorities was set up in 2007.  It needs support to build analytical 
and negotiating capacity, for the implementati on of the project in support of trade and 
the private sector (PACSEP), as well as the various measures approved with the EU, and for the coordination of Mauritania' s participation in the EPA process. 
 
 Revitalize the port environment and lower transport costs  in order to develop 
expertise as a break bulk point for maritime traffic and ensure that Mauritania plays 
an effective and operational role as a transit country by enhancing the 
competitiveness of the ports and their environment. 
 
 Strengthen trade institutions :  reaching this objective will require the following in 
particular:  (i) adoption of a legal and re gulatory framework for the development of 
trade policy;  (ii) revival of State-private sector consultation;  (iii) creation of an 
export promotion agency;  (iv) establishment of a national standardization and quality 
body;  and (v) introduction of a mechanism to organize PPPs. 
 
 Initiate a capacity-building programme :  this programme needs to be flexible and 
adapted to needs as and when they arise during implementation of the strategy.  It is planned, in particular:  (i) to develop a cen tre for strategic analysis;  (ii) to improve 
trade information;  and (iii) to provide s upport for the trade dispute arbitration centre, 
which comes under the authority of Maur itania's Chamber of Commerce, Industry 
and Agriculture (CCIAM), in order to make it operational. 
 2. Special measures are proposed for each of the five priority sectors (fisheries, agriculture, 
livestock, tourism and industry) in order to revi ve and diversify activities in these sectors, and to 
improve the quality and marketing of products. WT/TPR/G/250 Trade Policy Review 
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 The projects adopted include the following: 
 
1. Building international trade capacity; 
2. export promotion centre; 
3. unit to promote leather and hide products; 4. unit to promote red meat; 5. unit to promote fisheries products; 6. trade monitoring centre; 
7. standardization and quality control project; 
8. support for the development of tourism; 9. support for the promotion of crafts; 10. support for the Chamber of Co mmerce, Industry and Agriculture; 
11. support for modernization of the Customs administration;  and 12. support for the coordinating unit. 
 
3. In addition to this portfolio, it should be noted that the Europ ean Union has already 
undertaken to finance the Trade and Private Sector Support Project (PACSEP), amounting to 
€5 million, with a view to helping to strengthen the competitiveness of Mauritania's economy and to 
facilitate its integration into the regional (West Africa and Maghreb Uni on) and global economy in 
order to enable our country to derive maximum benefit from the EPA between the European Union 
and the West African region (ECOWAS+Mauritania). 
__________