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Mauritanie: Economic and Political Outline

Economic Indicators | Foreign Trade in Figures | Sources of General Economic Information | Political Outline

Economic Indicators

A vast desert bordered to the east by the 700km-long Atlantic coast and to the south by the Senegal River, with its three milion inhabitants, Mauritania has long lived on its resources of iron ore and fishery products. The oil factor has brought the country's economic takeoff starting from the mid-2000s; however, production has faltered since 2010. Other sectors, particularly gold production, should take over as the drivers of growth for the next ten years. Exploration licenses in the mining sector and that of hydrocarbons continue to multiply and diversify.

The decline in external demand, coupled with a national political crisis, has had a negative impact on the economy and has made it more vulnerable to external economic shocks. The global economic crisis has therefore had a strong negative effect on Mauritania's mineral exports and its tourism sector. However, the real GDP growth was 5% in 2011 according to the IMF. Activity was driven by the strong performance of the construction industry and manufacturing. Mining (20% of GDP) has benefited from buoyant world prices and sustained demand from China.

A modernization of the country, as well as support for education and industrial diversification will be needed if the government wants to limit the dependence of the Mauritanian economy on oil price fluctuations. International aid, on which too the country is heavily dependent, recovered in 2011 to reach a total of 2.3 billion euros.

Mauritania, which has shown encouraging results in 2011, aims for a growth of over 5% in 2012, relying especially on the high price of minerals (iron and copper) and on the recovery of its key clients and trading partners.

Main Indicators	2009	2010	2011	2012 (e)	2013 (e)
GDP (billions USD)	3.03e	3.63e	4.00e	4.33	4.53
GDP (Constant Prices, Annual % Change)	-1.2e	5.2e	5.1e	5.7	6.3
GDP per Capita (USD)	976	1,141e	1,227e	1,298	1,327
General Government Gross Debt (in % of GDP)	101.5	86.2	62.0	64.2	65.4
Inflation Rate (%)	2.2	6.3	6.2	6.3	5.9
Current Account (billions USD)	-0.32	-0.32	-0.30	-0.33	-0.34
Current Account (in % of GDP)	-10.7	-8.7	-7.5e	-7.5	-

Source: IMF - World Economic Outlook Database ; CIA - The world factbook , Last Available Data

Note: (e) Estimated Data

Main Sectors of Industry

Mauritania has been a market economy only since the last decade. It is currently going through a deep transformation.

The primary sector represente around 20% of the GDP. The country possesses iron mines and maritime coasts which count among the richest in fish in the world. Mauritania produces millet, sorghum, dates and rice, but its production is dominated by iron ore and industrial fishing. Farming, traditional sector of the economy practiced by Mauritanian nomads, also represents an important area of activity. The country has considerable mineral and oil resources, which represent a booming emerging market.

The secondary sector contributes 30% to the country's GDP.

The tertiary sector represente more than half of the GDP.

Breakdown of Economic Activity By Sector	Agriculture	Industry	Services
Value Added (in % of GDP)	20.2	37.0	42.8
Value Added (Annual % Change)	4.5	6.2	3.4

Source: World Bank - Last Available Data.

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Monetary Indicators	2006	2007	2008	2009	2010
Mauritanian Ouguiya (MRO) - Average Annual Exchange Rate For 1 USD	268.60	258.59	238.20	262.37	275.89

Source: World Bank - Last Available Data.

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Indicator of Economic Freedom

Score:: 52.1/100
Position:: Mostly unfree
World Rank:: 129/179
Regional Rank:: 26/45

Distribution of Economic freedom in the world
Source: 2011 Index of Economic freedom, Heritage Foundation

Note: The Economic freedom index measure ten components of economic freedom, grouped into four broad categories or pillars of economic freedom: Rule of Law (property rights, freedom from corruption); Limited Government (fiscal freedom, government spending); Regulatory Efficiency (business freedom, labor freedom, monetary freedom); and Open Markets (trade freedom, investment freedom, financial freedom). Each of the freedoms within these four broad categories is individually scored on a scale of 0 to 100. A country’s overall economic freedom score is a simple average of its scores on the 10 individual freedoms.

Country Risk

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Foreign Trade in Figures

The good trade balance of the Mauritanian trade in the years 2006-2007 did not withstand the effects of the global financial crisis, which were felt until 2010. After a fall in the exports of iron and other minerals in 2009 and 2010, the country's trade balance remained negative in 2011 due to an increase in imports.

Iron ore, fishery products and crude oil are Mauritania's three main exports. Its main trading clients are China (which alone accounts for more than 50% of exports), Italy, Japan, Ivory Coast and France. Mauritania's imports are largely made up of equipment for mining and mineral oil, capital goods, vehicles and food products.

Its main suppliers are France (more than 21% of Mauritanian imports), the Netherlands, China and Brazil. With the exception of Ivory Coast, Mauritania has few significant trade contacts with other African countries.

Foreign Trade Indicators	2007	2008	2009	2010	2011
Imports of Goods (million USD)	1,596	1,941	1,430	1,750	2,600
Exports of Goods (million USD)	1,402	1,788	1,370	1,890	2,670
Imports of Services (million USD)	-	724	551	568	-
Exports of Services (million USD)	85	104	176	85	-
Imports of Goods and Services (in % of GDP)	68.9	76.6	67.5	63.0	-
Exports of Goods and Services (in % of GDP)	54.5	54.4	49.7	47.6	-
Foreign Trade (in % of GDP)	123.4	131.0	117.2	110.6	-

Source: WTO - World Trade Organization ; World Bank , Last Available Data

Main Partner Countries

Main Customers (% of Exports)	2010
China	19.1%
Switzerland	18.6%
Japan	16.2%
Spain	15.3%
Swaziland	14.4%
Russia	4.5%
Italy	1.9%
France	1.8%
Portugal	1.0%
Ghana	1.0%
Nigeria	0.8%
Ivory Coast	0.6%
Greece	0.6%
South Africa	0.5%
Egypt	0.4%
India	0.3%
South Korea	0.3%
Ukraine	0.3%
Belarus	0.3%
Morocco	0.2%
See More Countries	16.3%

Main Suppliers (% of Imports)	2010
France	14.1%
United Arab Emirates	12.1%
Netherlands	10.6%
Belgium	9.9%
China	6.8%
Spain	4.7%
Singapore	4.6%
United States	3.7%
Brazil	2.8%
Germany	2.7%
Japan	2.6%
Senegal	2.5%
Morocco	2.3%
Russia	1.8%
Malaysia	1.4%
Turkey	1.4%
Thailand	1.3%
United Kingdom	1.1%
Italy	1.1%
Switzerland	0.9%
See More Countries	46.5%

Source: Comtrade, Last Available Data

Main Products

Main Exports (% of Exports)	2010
Gold, incl. gold plated with platinum, unwrought...Gold, incl. gold plated with platinum, unwrought or not further worked than semi-manufactured or in powder form	33.7%
Copper ores and concentratesCopper ores and concentrates	16.9%
Frozen fish (excl. fish fillets and other fish...Frozen fish (excl. fish fillets and other fish meat of heading 0304)	16.8%
Molluscs, fit for human consumption, whether in...Molluscs, fit for human consumption, whether in shell or not, live, fresh, chilled, frozen, dried, salted or in brine, incl. aquatic invertebrates (other than crustaceans and molluscs); flours, meals and pellets of aquatic invertebrates other than crustaceans, fit for human consumption	15.1%
Flours, meals and pellets, of meat or meat offal,...Flours, meals and pellets, of meat or meat offal, of fish or of crustaceans, molluscs or other aquatic invertebrates, unfit for human consumption; greaves	2.7%
Tungsten ores and concentratesTungsten ores and concentrates	1.8%
Fish, fresh or chilled (excl. fish fillets and...Fish, fresh or chilled (excl. fish fillets and other fish meat of heading 0304)	1.6%
Crustaceans, fit for human consumption, whether in...Crustaceans, fit for human consumption, whether in shell or not, live, fresh, chilled, frozen, dried, salted or in brine, incl. crustaceans in shell cooked beforehand by steaming or by boiling in water; flours, meals and pellets of crustaceans, fit for human consumption	1.1%
Ores and concentrates (excl. iron, manganese,...Ores and concentrates (excl. iron, manganese, copper, nickel, cobalt, aluminium, lead, zinc, tin, chromium, tungsten, uranium, thorium, molybdenum, titanium, niobium, tantalum, vanadium, zirconium and precious metal ores and concentrates)	0.6%
Crustaceans, molluscs and other aquatic...Crustaceans, molluscs and other aquatic invertebrates, prepared or preserved	0.4%
Ferrous waste and scrap; remelting scrap ingots of...Ferrous waste and scrap; remelting scrap ingots of iron or steel (excl. slag, scale and other waste from the production of iron or steel; radioactive waste and scrap; fragments of pigs, blocks or other primary forms of pig iron or spiegeleisen)	0.4%
Nickel ores and concentratesNickel ores and concentrates	0.3%
Prepared or preserved fish; caviar and caviar...Prepared or preserved fish; caviar and caviar substitutes prepared from fish eggs	0.3%
Fats and oils and their fractions of fish or...Fats and oils and their fractions of fish or marine mammals, whether or not refined (excl. chemically modified)	0.1%
See More Products	14.7%

Main Imports (% of Imports)	2010
Petroleum oils and oils obtained from bituminous...Petroleum oils and oils obtained from bituminous minerals (excl. crude); preparations containing >= 70% by weight of petroleum oils or of oils obtained from bituminous minerals, these oils being the basic constituents of the preparations, n.e.s.; waste oils containing mainly petroleum or bituminous minerals	24.8%
Parts suitable for use solely or principally with...Parts suitable for use solely or principally with the machinery of heading 8425 to 8430, n.e.s.	5.1%
Wheat and meslinWheat and meslin	4.8%
Parts suitable for use solely or principally with...Parts suitable for use solely or principally with electric motors and generators, electric generating sets and rotary converters, n.e.s.	4.4%
Tugs and pusher craftTugs and pusher craft	3.5%
Motor cars and other motor vehicles principally...Motor cars and other motor vehicles principally designed for the transport of persons, incl. station wagons and racing cars (excl. motor vehicles of heading 8702)	3.0%
Cane or beet sugar and chemically pure sucrose, in...Cane or beet sugar and chemically pure sucrose, in solid form	2.7%
Self-propelled bulldozers, angledozers, graders,...Self-propelled bulldozers, angledozers, graders, levellers, scrapers, mechanical shovels, excavators, shovel loaders, tamping machines and road rollers	2.5%
RiceRice	2.2%
Cement, incl. cement clinkers, whether or not...Cement, incl. cement clinkers, whether or not coloured	2.2%
Milk and cream, concentrated or containing added...Milk and cream, concentrated or containing added sugar or other sweetening matter	2.0%
Motor vehicles for the transport of goods, incl....Motor vehicles for the transport of goods, incl. chassis with engine and cab	1.7%
Special purpose motor vehicles (other than those...Special purpose motor vehicles (other than those principally designed for the transport of persons or goods), e.g. breakdown lorries, crane lorries, fire fighting vehicles, concrete-mixer lorries, road sweeper lorries, spraying lorries, mobile workshops and mobile radiological units	1.6%
Bars and rods, of iron or non-alloy steel,...Bars and rods, of iron or non-alloy steel, cold-formed or cold-finished, whether or not further worked, or hot-formed and further worked, n.e.s.	1.5%
Petroleum gas and other gaseous hydrocarbonsPetroleum gas and other gaseous hydrocarbons	1.5%
Moving, grading, levelling, scraping, excavating,...Moving, grading, levelling, scraping, excavating, tamping, compacting, extracting or boring machinery, for earth, minerals or ores; pile-drivers and pile-extractors; snow-ploughs and snow-blowers (excl. those mounted on railway wagons, motor vehicle chassis or lorries, self-propelled machinery of heading 8429, lifting, handling, loading or unloading machinery of heading 8425 to 8428 and hand-operated tools)	1.5%
Soya-bean oil and its fractions, whether or not...Soya-bean oil and its fractions, whether or not refined (excl. chemically modified)	1.4%
Milk and cream, not concentrated nor containing...Milk and cream, not concentrated nor containing added sugar or other sweetening matter	1.2%
Cigars, cheroots, cigarillos and cigarettes of...Cigars, cheroots, cigarillos and cigarettes of tobacco or of tobacco substitutes	1.2%
Machinery for sorting, screening, separating,...Machinery for sorting, screening, separating, washing, crushing, grinding, mixing or kneading earth, stone, ores or other mineral substances, in solid, incl. powder or paste, form; machinery for agglomerating, shaping or moulding solid mineral fuels, ceramic paste, unhardened cements, plastering materials or other mineral products in powder or paste form; machines for forming foundry moulds of sand; parts thereof	1.0%
Mineral or chemical nitrogenous fertilizers (excl....Mineral or chemical nitrogenous fertilizers (excl. those in pellet or similar forms, or in packages with a gross weight of <= 10 kg)	1.0%
New pneumatic tyres, of rubberNew pneumatic tyres, of rubber	0.9%
Electric motors and generators (excl. generating...Electric motors and generators (excl. generating sets)	0.9%
Light-vessels, fire-floats, dredgers, floating...Light-vessels, fire-floats, dredgers, floating cranes, and other vessels the navigability of which is subsidiary to their main function; floating docks, floating or submersible drilling or production platforms (excl. fishing vessels and warships)	0.7%
Electric generating sets and rotary convertersElectric generating sets and rotary converters	0.7%
Tea, whether or not flavouredTea, whether or not flavoured	0.6%
Medicaments consisting of mixed or unmixed...Medicaments consisting of mixed or unmixed products for therapeutic or prophylactic uses, put up in measured doses "incl. those in the form of transdermal administration" or in forms or packings for retail sale (excl. goods of heading 3002, 3005 or 3006)	0.6%
Structures and parts of structures "e.g., bridges...Structures and parts of structures "e.g., bridges and bridge-sections, lock-gates, towers, lattice masts, roofs, roofing frameworks, doors and windows and their frames and thresholds for doors, shutters, balustrades, pillars and columns", of iron or steel; plates, rods, angles, shapes, sections, tubes and the like, prepared for use in structures, of iron or steel (excl. prefabricated buildings of heading 9406)	0.5%
Motor vehicles for the transport of >= 10 persons,...Motor vehicles for the transport of >= 10 persons, incl. driver	0.5%
Transmission shafts, incl. camshafts and...Transmission shafts, incl. camshafts and crankshafts, and cranks; bearing housings and plain shaft bearings for machines; gears and gearing; ball or roller screws, gear boxes and other speed changers, incl. torque converters; flywheels and pulleys, incl. pulley blocks, clutches and shaft couplings, incl. universal joints; parts thereof	0.5%
Tubes, pipes and hollow profiles, seamless, of...Tubes, pipes and hollow profiles, seamless, of iron or steel (excl. products of cast iron)	0.5%
Prepared explosives (excl. propellent powders)Prepared explosives (excl. propellent powders)	0.5%
Parts of railway or tramway locomotives or...Parts of railway or tramway locomotives or rolling-stock, n.e.s.	0.4%
Insulated "incl. enamelled or anodised" wire,...Insulated "incl. enamelled or anodised" wire, cable "incl. coaxial cable" and other insulated electric conductors, whether or not fitted with connectors; optical fibre cables, made-up of individually sheathed fibres, whether or not assembled with electric conductors or fitted with connectors	0.4%
Meat and edible offal of fowls of the species...Meat and edible offal of fowls of the species gallus domesticus, ducks, geese, turkeys and guinea fowls, fresh, chilled or frozen	0.4%
Tractors (other than tractors of heading 8709)Tractors (other than tractors of heading 8709)	0.4%
Woven fabrics of cotton, containing predominantly,...Woven fabrics of cotton, containing predominantly, but < 85% cotton by weight, other than those mixed principally or solely with man-made fibres	0.4%
Quicklime, slaked lime and hydraulic lime (excl....Quicklime, slaked lime and hydraulic lime (excl. pure calcium oxide and calcium hydroxide)	0.4%
Trailers and semi-trailers; other vehicles, not...Trailers and semi-trailers; other vehicles, not mechanically propelled (excl. railway and tramway vehicles); parts thereof, n.e.s.	0.4%
Articles of iron or steel, n.e.s. (excl. cast...Articles of iron or steel, n.e.s. (excl. cast articles)	0.4%
Railway or tramway track construction material of...Railway or tramway track construction material of iron or steel, the following : rails, check-rails and rack rails, switch blades, crossing frogs, point rods and other crossing pieces, sleepers "cross-ties", fish-plates, chairs, chair wedges, sole plates "base plates", rail clips, bedplates, ties and other material specialized for jointing or fixing rails	0.4%
Articles for the conveyance or packaging of goods,...Articles for the conveyance or packaging of goods, of plastics; stoppers, lids, caps and other closures, of plastics	0.3%
Parts suitable for use solely or principally with...Parts suitable for use solely or principally with internal combustion piston engine of heading 8407 or 8408	0.3%
Cereal groats, meal and pelletsCereal groats, meal and pellets	0.3%
Polymers of ethylene, in primary formsPolymers of ethylene, in primary forms	0.3%
Powered aircraft "e.g. helicopters and aeroplanes...Powered aircraft "e.g. helicopters and aeroplanes"; spacecraft, incl. satellites, and suborbital and spacecraft launch vehicles	0.3%
Cyanides, oxycyanides and complex cyanidesCyanides, oxycyanides and complex cyanides	0.3%
Parts and accessories for tractors, motor vehicles...Parts and accessories for tractors, motor vehicles for the transport of ten or more persons, motor cars and other motor vehicles principally designed for the transport of persons, motor vehicles for the transport of goods and special purpose motor vehicles of heading 8701 to 8705, n.e.s.	0.3%
Unglazed ceramic flags and paving, hearth or wall...Unglazed ceramic flags and paving, hearth or wall tiles; unglazed ceramic mosaic cubes and the like, whether or not on a backing (excl. of siliceous fossil meals or similar siliceous earths, refractory ceramic goods, tiles made into stands, ornamental articles and tiles specifically manufactured for stoves)	0.3%
Transmission apparatus for radio-telephony,...Transmission apparatus for radio-telephony, radio-telegraphy, radio-broadcasting or television, whether or not incorporating reception apparatus or sound recording or reproducing apparatus; television cameras; still image video cameras and other video camera recorders; digital cameras	0.3%
Other vegetables, fresh or chilled (excl. potatoes...Other vegetables, fresh or chilled (excl. potatoes, tomatoes, alliaceous vegetables, edible brassicas, lettuce "lactuca sativa" and chicory "cichorium spp.", carrots, turnips, salad beetroot, salsify, celeriac, radishes and similar edible roots, cucumbers and gherkins, and leguminous vegatables)	0.3%
Centrifuges, incl. centrifugal dryers (excl. those...Centrifuges, incl. centrifugal dryers (excl. those for isotope separation); filtering or purifying machinery and apparatus, for liquids or gases; parts thereof (excl. artificial kidneys)	0.3%
Cartons, boxes, cases, bags and other packing...Cartons, boxes, cases, bags and other packing containers, of paper, paperboard, cellulose wadding or webs of cellulose fibres, n.e.s.; box files, letter trays, and similar articles, of paperboard of a kind used in offices, shops or the like	0.3%
Parts suitable for use solely or principally with...Parts suitable for use solely or principally with the apparatus of heading 8535, 8536 or 8537, n.e.s.	0.2%
Coconut "copra", palm kernel or babassu oil and...Coconut "copra", palm kernel or babassu oil and fractions thereof, whether or not refined, but not chemically modified	0.2%
Medicaments consisting of two or more constituents...Medicaments consisting of two or more constituents mixed together for therapeutic or prophylactic uses, not in measured doses or put up for retail sale (excl. goods of heading 3002, 3005 or 3006)	0.2%
Palm oil and its fractions, whether or not refined...Palm oil and its fractions, whether or not refined (excl. chemically modified)	0.2%
Angles, shapes and sections of iron or non-alloy...Angles, shapes and sections of iron or non-alloy steel, n.e.s.	0.2%
Surveying, incl. photogrammetrical surveying,...Surveying, incl. photogrammetrical surveying, hydrographic, oceanographic, hydrological, meteorological or geophysical instruments and appliances (excl. compasses); rangefinders	0.2%
Machines and mechanical appliances having...Machines and mechanical appliances having individual functions, not specified or included elsewhere in this chapter; parts thereof	0.2%
Electrical signalling, safety or traffic control...Electrical signalling, safety or traffic control equipment for railways, tramways, roads, inland waterways parking facilities, port installations or airfields (excl. mechanical or electromechanical equipment of heading 8608); parts thereof	0.2%
Automatic data processing machines and units...Automatic data processing machines and units thereof; magnetic or optical readers, machines for transcribing data onto data media in coded form and machines for processing such data, n.e.s.	0.2%
Electrical apparatus for line telephony or line...Electrical apparatus for line telephony or line telegraphy, incl. line telephone sets with cordless handsets and telecommunication apparatus for carrier-current line systems or for digital line systems; videophones; parts thereof	0.2%
Refrigerators, freezers and other refrigerating or...Refrigerators, freezers and other refrigerating or freezing equipment, electric or other; heat pumps; parts thereof (excl. air conditioning machines of heading 8415)	0.2%
Harvesting or threshing machinery, incl. straw or...Harvesting or threshing machinery, incl. straw or fodder balers; grass or hay mowers; machines for cleaning, sorting or grading eggs, fruit or other agricultural produce; parts thereof (other than machines for cleaning, sorting or grading seed, grain or dried leguminous vegetables of heading 8437)	0.2%
Potatoes, fresh or chilledPotatoes, fresh or chilled	0.2%
Railway or tramway sleepers "cross-ties" of woodRailway or tramway sleepers "cross-ties" of wood	0.2%
Taps, cocks, valves and similar appliances for...Taps, cocks, valves and similar appliances for pipes, boiler shells, tanks, vats or the like, incl. pressure-reducing valves and thermostatically controlled valves; parts thereof	0.2%
Garments made-up of felt or nonwovens, whether or...Garments made-up of felt or nonwovens, whether or not impregnated, coated, covered or laminated; garments of textile fabrics, rubberised or impregnated, coated, covered or laminated with plastics or other substances (excl. knitted or crocheted, and babies' garments and clothing accessories)	0.2%
Pasta, whether or not cooked or stuffed with meat...Pasta, whether or not cooked or stuffed with meat or other substances or otherwise prepared, such as spaghetti, macaroni, noodles, lasagne, gnocchi, ravioli, cannelloni; couscous, whether or not prepared	0.2%
Tools, interchangeable, for hand tools, whether or...Tools, interchangeable, for hand tools, whether or not power-operated, or for machine-tools "e.g. for pressing, stamping, punching, tapping, threading, drilling, boring, broaching, milling, turning or screw driving", incl. dies for drawing or extruding metal, and rock drilling or earth boring tools	0.2%
Prefabricated buildings, whether or not complete...Prefabricated buildings, whether or not complete or already assembled	0.2%
Toilet paper and similar paper, cellulose wadding...Toilet paper and similar paper, cellulose wadding or webs of cellulose fibres, of a kind used for household or sanitary purposes, in rolls of a width <= 36 cm, or cut to size or shape; handkerchiefs, cleansing tissues, towels, tablecloths, serviettes, napkins for babies, tampons, bed sheets and similar household, sanitary or hospital articles, articles of apparel and clothing accessories, of paper pulp, paper, cellulose wadding or webs of cellulose fibres	0.2%
Tubes, pipes and hoses, and fittings therefor, e.g...Tubes, pipes and hoses, and fittings therefor, e.g. joints, elbows, flanges, of plastics	0.2%
Wood in the rough, whether or not stripped of bark...Wood in the rough, whether or not stripped of bark or sapwood, or roughly squared (excl. rough-cut wood for walking sticks, umbrellas, tool shafts and the like; wood in the form of railway sleepers; wood cut into boards or beams, etc.)	0.2%
Air or vacuum pumps (excl. gas compound elevators...Air or vacuum pumps (excl. gas compound elevators and pneumatic elevators and conveyors); air or other gas compressors and fans; ventilating or recycling hoods incorporating a fan, whether or not fitted with filters; parts thereof	0.2%
Articles for interior furnishing, of all types of...Articles for interior furnishing, of all types of textile materials (excl. blankets and travelling rugs, bed-linen, table linen, toilet linen, kitchen linen, curtains, incl. drapes, interior blinds, curtain or bed valances, lampshades and articles of heading 9404)	0.2%
Electrical transformers, static converters, e.g....Electrical transformers, static converters, e.g. rectifiers, and inductors; parts thereof	0.2%
Onions, shallots, garlic, leeks and other...Onions, shallots, garlic, leeks and other alliaceous vegetables, fresh or chilled	0.2%
Petroleum coke, petroleum bitumen and other...Petroleum coke, petroleum bitumen and other residues of petroleum oil or of oil obtained from bituminous minerals, n.e.s.	0.1%
Pumps for liquids, whether or not fitted with a...Pumps for liquids, whether or not fitted with a measuring device (excl. ceramic pumps and secretion aspirating pumps for medical use and medical pumps carried on or implanted in the body); liquid elevators (excl. pumps); parts thereof	0.1%
Printed matter, incl. printed pictures and...Printed matter, incl. printed pictures and photographs, n.e.s.	0.1%
Bread, pastry, cakes, biscuits and other bakers'...Bread, pastry, cakes, biscuits and other bakers' wares, whether or not containing cocoa; communion wafers, empty cachets of a kind suitable for pharmaceutical use, sealing wafers, rice paper and similar products	0.1%
Safety fuses; detonating fuses; percussion or...Safety fuses; detonating fuses; percussion or detonating caps; ignitors; electric detonators (excl. grenade detonators and cartridge cases, whether or not with percussion caps)	0.1%
Sacks and bags, of a kind used for the packing of...Sacks and bags, of a kind used for the packing of goods, of all types of textile materials	0.1%
Tableware, kitchenware, other household articles...Tableware, kitchenware, other household articles and toilet articles, of plastics (excl. baths, shower-baths, wash-basins, bidets, lavatory pans, seats and covers, flushing cisterns and similar sanitary ware)	0.1%
Ships' derricks; cranes, incl. cable cranes (excl....Ships' derricks; cranes, incl. cable cranes (excl. wheel-mounted cranes and vehicle cranes for railways); mobile lifting frames, straddle carriers and works trucks fitted with a crane	0.1%
Waters, incl. mineral waters and aerated waters,...Waters, incl. mineral waters and aerated waters, containing added sugar or other sweetening matter or flavoured, and other non-alcoholic beverages (excl. fruit or vegetable juices and milk)	0.1%
Lifting, handling, loading or unloading machinery,...Lifting, handling, loading or unloading machinery, e.g. lifts, escalators, conveyors, teleferics (excl. pulley tackle and hoists, winches and capstans, jacks, cranes of all kinds, mobile lifting frames and straddle carriers, works trucks fitted with a crane, fork-lift trucks and other works trucks fitted with lifting or handling equipment)	0.1%
Bars and rods of iron or non-alloy steel,...Bars and rods of iron or non-alloy steel, hot-rolled, in irregularly wound coils	0.1%
Fork-lift trucks; other works trucks fitted with...Fork-lift trucks; other works trucks fitted with lifting or handling equipment (excl. straddle carriers and works trucks fitted with a crane)	0.1%
Oils and other products of the distillation of...Oils and other products of the distillation of high temperature coal tar; similar products in which the weight of the aromatic constituents exceeds that of the non-aromatic constituents	0.1%
Soups and broths and preparations therefor; food...Soups and broths and preparations therefor; food preparations consisting of finely homogenized mixtures of two or more basic ingredients such as meat, fish, vegetables or fruit, put up for retail sale as infant food or for dietetic purposes, in containers of <= 250 g	0.1%
Human blood; animal blood prepared for therapeutic...Human blood; animal blood prepared for therapeutic, prophylactic or diagnostic uses; antisera and other blood fractions and modified immunological products, whether or not obtained by means of biotechnological processes; vaccines, toxins, cultures of micro-organisms (excl. yeasts) and similar products	0.1%
Cloth, incl. endless bands, grill, netting and...Cloth, incl. endless bands, grill, netting and fencing, of iron or steel wire, expanded metal of iron or steel (excl. woven products of metal fibres of a kind used for cladding, lining or similar purposes)	0.1%
See More Products	57.4%

Source: Comtrade, Last Available Data

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Sources of General Economic Information

Ministries: Ministry of Economics Affairs and Development (in French)
Ministry of Economy and Finances (in French)
Statistical Office: National Statistical Instiute (in French)
Central Bank: Central Bank of Mauritania (in French)
Stock Exchange
Search Engines: Directory of Cities, Towns and Regions in Mauritania
Selection of Mauritanian trade-related websites
Economic Portals: Portal of Economics Sites
Mauritania Internet Guide (In French)

Political Outline

Executive Power: The chief of state is the Military Leader, who at the time of the coup in 2005 promised to hold presidential elections within two years. Military leader has the supreme powers. Otherwise (before the coup), President used to be the chief of the state and was elected by a popular vote for a five-year term. President enjoyed the executive powers which include implementation of the law and running the day-to-day affairs of the country. Prime Minister acts as the head of the government and is appointed by the President (generally head of the majority party or coalition in the lower house of the parliament is selected) to serve a term of five years.
Legislative Power: The legislature in Mauritania is bicameral. The parliament consists of: the Senate (upper house) having 56 seats; with its members elected by municipal leaders to serve six-year terms and the National Assembly (lower house) having 81 seats; with its members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms. The National Assembly exercises little independence from the executive. It can be dissolved by the President at his will. The people of Mauritania enjoy very limited political rights.
Main Political Parties: Mauritania is a state in transition. Formerly (before the coup) the nation was a one-party dominant state. Opposition parties were allowed, but had no real chance of gaining power. Following the 2005 Coup the direction and ideology of political parties in the country is unclear. For example the main political party PRDR (Republican Party for Democracy and Renewal) was earlier a democratic & social republican party, but now supports the Military Leader. Some other major parties in the country are:
- RDU (Rally for Democracy and Unity),
- UDP (Union for Democracy and Progress),
- RFD (Rally of Democratic Forces),
- AC (Action for Change).
Current Political Leaders: President : Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz, since July 19, 2009. He was the former head of the junta and he led the coup d'état of August 6, 2008.
Prime Minister : Moulaye Ould Mohamed Laghdaf (since August 14, 2008)
Next Election Dates: National Assembly: Year 2011

Indicator of Freedom of the Press

World Rank:: 67/179
Evolution:: 28 places up compared to 2010

Source: Worldwide Press Freedom Index 2011, Reporters Without Borders

Note: The world rankings, published annually, measures the violations of press freedom worldwide. It reflects the degree of freedom enjoyed by journalists, the media and digital citizens of each country and the means used by states to respect and uphold this freedom. Finally, a note and a position is assigned to each country. To compile this index, Reporters Without Borders (RWB) prepared a questionnaire sent to partner organizations,150 RWB correspondents, journalists, researchers, jurists and activists of human rights, including the main criteria - 44 in total - to assess the situation of press freedom in a given country. It includes every kind of direct attacks against journalists and digital citizens (murders, imprisonment, assault, threats, etc.) or against the media (censorship, confiscation, searches and harassment etc.).

Indicator of Political Freedom

Ranking:: Not Free
Political Freedom:: 6/7
Civil Liberties:: 5/7

Map of freedom 2010
Source: Freedom House

Note: The Indicator of Political Freedom provides an annual evaluation of the state of freedom in a country as experienced by individuals. The survey measures freedom according to two broad categories: political rights and civil liberties. The ratings process is based on a checklist of 10 political rights questions (on Electoral Process, Political Pluralism and Participation, Functioning of Government) and 15 civil liberties questions (on Freedom of Expression, Belief, Associational and Organizational Rights, Rule of Law, Personal Autonomy and Individual Rights). Scores are awarded to each of these questions on a scale of 0 to 4, where a score of 0 represents the smallest degree and 4 the greatest degree of rights or liberties present. The total score awarded to the political rights and civil liberties checklist determines the political rights and civil liberties rating. Each rating of 1 through 7, with 1 representing the highest and 7 the lowest level of freedom, corresponds to a range of total scores.

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