Mauritania

Independent since 1958, the West African state of Mauritania borders with Western Sahara to the north, Algeria to the northeast, the Atlantic Ocean to the west, Senegal to the south and Mali to the east. The population is estimated to be 4.4 million, divided into six ethnic groups. The official language is Arabic.

Thanks to its off-centre geographical position in relation to the Sahel crisis, Mauritania today enjoys a good level of political stability. Despite this and the presence of natural and energy resources, the country has not yet achieved a sustained economic growth. Its proximity to Western Sahara to the north, combined with its economic potential, make Mauritania a key country in the geopolitical balances of the Broader Mediterranean region.

Trade between Italy and Mauritania is growing. Since 2018, Italian private companies have begun to explore business opportunities in the local market, and in 2020 the value of trade between the two countries increased by 12 percent. In 2021 the trade between the two countries reached $ 241,56 million. Italian exports to Mauritania mainly consist of agricultural and industrial machinery, while imports include energy and fish products. Italy has also launched a wide range of initiatives in the humanitarian sphere as well as in security cooperation.