Morocco and Mauritania target deeper industrial integration and joint investment

Friday 18 September 2026 - 21:00

Morocco and Mauritania are seeking to translate their growing economic ties into concrete industrial partnerships, with business leaders from both countries placing greater emphasis on joint projects and the development of regional value chains.

The issue was at the centre of talks held in Nouakchott between Morocco’s ambassador to Mauritania, Hamid Chabar, and Mohamed Zein El Abidine Ould Cheikh Ahmed, president of the National Union of Mauritanian Employers (UNPM).

Their discussions focused on ways to strengthen contacts between Moroccan and Mauritanian companies and create mechanisms capable of turning economic cooperation into projects with shared benefits.

From commercial exchanges to joint projects

The meeting highlighted the importance of moving beyond conventional trade relations toward a more integrated economic partnership.

Both sides examined possible mechanisms for expanding bilateral economic exchanges while encouraging private-sector cooperation around projects of common interest. Such an approach could give businesses a greater role in transforming bilateral relations into longer-term investment and production partnerships.

The discussions also reflected the importance of closer dialogue between business organisations and economic stakeholders in both countries.

Industrial integration takes centre stage

Particular attention was given to the “Morocco-Mauritania Special Day” held during the 14th edition of SISTEP in Casablanca.

The event placed industrial integration at the heart of discussions between the two countries, with a focus on developing joint value chains in strategic sectors.

Industry, mining and energy were identified as key areas where greater cooperation could support co-development and create stronger links between companies and production ecosystems on both sides.

For businesses, developing integrated value chains can create opportunities beyond the simple exchange of finished products by encouraging investment, industrial partnerships, technology transfers and complementary production activities.

Mining and energy offer strategic opportunities

The emphasis on mining and energy reflects the economic importance of these sectors in both countries.

Closer cooperation could encourage companies to explore complementary capabilities and develop projects involving several stages of the production process. Industrial partnerships could also provide a framework for creating greater local value around natural resources.

The approach would require sustained coordination between public institutions, business organisations and private companies, particularly when projects involve significant investment and long-term infrastructure requirements.

A business-driven dimension to bilateral ties

The discussions in Nouakchott underline the growing importance of private-sector engagement in Morocco-Mauritania economic relations.

By bringing employers’ organisations and business representatives closer together, both countries can identify areas where existing commercial links could evolve into more structured partnerships.

The emphasis on common projects also points to a broader objective: building economic relations around production, investment and value creation rather than relying exclusively on trade flows.

The latest discussions therefore place industrial integration at the centre of a bilateral economic agenda that seeks to connect companies, strengthen value chains and create new opportunities for cooperation between Morocco and Mauritania.