Mauritania Country Commercial Guide
Learn about the market conditions, opportunities, regulations, and business conditions in mauritania, prepared by at U.S. Embassies worldwide by Commerce Department, State Department and other U.S. agencies’ professionals
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Overview 

Product literature and sales material must be in French and/or Arabic. The packaging for food items should describe the nature of the product, the ingredients and quantity, as well as the production and expiration dates.

Trade Promotion and Advertising 

There are few qualified advertising agencies in Mauritania. Advertising is generally done in Arabic and French through newspapers, magazines, radio, and TV. There are currently about 250 news websites in Mauritania. There are three private newspapers published daily in addition to two government newspapers. Although not fully developed, social media ads are starting to gain ground, and more startups are using their respective online platforms to promote their products. 

Government control of the media in Mauritania involves pre-publication censorship, which is covered in Article 11 of the Constitution in Mauritania. This states that, “content and media can be banned if they threaten national sovereignty, security, or unity or the territorial integrity of Mauritania or if they insult Islam or foreign heads of state.”

The most prominent newspapers are as follows:
 

  • Journal HORIZONS (French version) and CHAAB (Arabic version) (Official)
    B.P. 467
    Nouakchott, Mauritanie
    Tel: (222) 525-5883
    Fax: (222) 525-3170 or 525-4587
    Mr. Mohamed Ould Hamady, Director
     
  • LE CALAME (Arabic and French versions)
    B.P. 1059
    Nouakchott, Mauritanie
    Fax: (222) 525-7555
    Mr. Habib Ould Mahfoud, President and Managing Director
     
  • LA TRIBUNE
    B.P. 6227
    Nouakchott, Mauritanie
    Tel: (222) 525-4492
    Fax: (222) 525-0209
    Mr. Mohamed Fall Ould Oumère, President and Managing Director
     
  • Le Renovateur
    Immeuble Faboly, Medina 3
    Nouakchott, Mauritania
    Tel: (222) 529-2248
    Mobile: (222) 648-7493

Pricing 

The price of products varies significantly from one locale to another, as well as from one shop to another within the same locale. Prices depend on distribution channels as well as price mark-ups determined by individual retailers for products whose prices are not under government control. Fuel and wheat are the main products whose prices are controlled by the government. A law on pricing exists, but its enforcement is limited. Buyers are encouraged to verify whether pricing is listed in “old ouguiya” or “new ouguiya,” which differs by a factor of ten (please see “Currency” for further details). The government agency in charge of price monitoring, the Office of Competition Policy, Consumer Affairs, and Fraud Control (Direction de la Concurrence, de la Protection des Consommateurs et de la Repression des Fraudes) has limited resources to enforce the law.

Sales Service/Customer Support 

All reliable suppliers provide after-sales service to their customers. For a certain period after the sale, this service is free of charge. After this period has expired, the supplier may charge repair fees to customers. Customer support is widely available for electronic components, household appliances, vehicles, heavy equipment, and small fishing vessels.
Local Professional Services 
Below is a list of prominent professional organizations that are based locally in Mauritania.  

  • Mining and Industry Association
    B.P. 3475
    Nouakchott, Mauritanie
    Tel: (222) 525-3239
    Fax: (222) 525-8157
    Mr. Ahmed Hamza, President
     
  • National Fishing Association
    B.P. 43
    Nouadhibou, Mauritanie
    Tel: (222) 574-5089
    Fax: (222) 574-5430
    fnp@toptechnology.mr
     
  • Arab Authority for Agricultural Investment and Development
    Tel: (222) 525-9237
    Fax: (222) 525-9237
    Mr. Mohamed Salem Ould Ahmed, Representative
     
  • SAPEGAN Mauritanie SARL (Equipment importers)
    Tel: (222) 45241437
    E-mail: sapeganmauritanie@hotmail.fr
     
  • United States - Mauritania Business Council
    (Accepts U.S. company members)
    Tel: (222) 45246282 or (222) 25065884
    Chairman:  Mr. Sid’Ahmed Abeidna
    Office Manager: 
    Links: LinkedInand Facebookebook
     
  • Mauritanian Employers Association (Patronat)
    (Accepts U.S. company members)
    B.P. 383
    Nouakchott, Mauritanie
    Tel: (222) 525-2160 or 525-3301
    Mr., Mohamed Zein El Abidine Ould Cheikh Ahmed, President
    Mr. Seyid Ould Abdellahi, Secretary General
     
  • Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture (Chambre de Commerce, d’Industrie et d’Agriculture de Mauritanie)
    (Accepts U.S. company members)

Limitations on Selling U.S. Products and Services 

There are no limitations on selling U.S. products and services in Mauritania, but there are bans on the import of certain products as referenced in previous sections.

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