The workshop follows the official launch of the government initiative for the development of Nouadhibou zone as a comprehensive economic pole with special economic zones aimed at creating an environment for business and attracting local and international investments in priority economic sectors. The agenda of the workshop includes a discussion of legal, economic, financial and technical studies and recommendations prepared by international consultants under the ICD supervision within the IDBG program for the development of special economic zones in member countries.

The workshop will also discuss the financial and economic feasibility studies related to the establishment of the first industrial zone specialized in fishing and other related industries, which represent the nucleus of a special economic zone within a general framework for partnership between the public and private sectors. This aims at supporting the nationalization of value-added industries, providing employment opportunities for national cadres and strengthening the competitiveness of the Mauritanian economy, especially in priority sectors by benefiting from the advantages of the special area and the strategic location of the Bay of Nouadhibou in order to attract international investments and foster the development of the region.

The opening session of the workshop was attended by the Mauritanian ministers of economic affairs and development, finance, fisheries and maritime economy, housing and urbanism and land management, trade and industry, handicraft and tourism as well as a delegation from the IDBG, headed by Khaled Al-Aboodi, CEO and general manager of ICD. Representatives of the Arab Fund for Economic and Social Development, the Turkish Agency for Development and representatives of SNIM Company and Korean group Colon in addition to government agencies and private sector unions of Mauritania are also among the participants.