Mauritania - Policy Options to Enhance Private Sector Development : 
Country Economic Memorandum

World Bank

dc.creator	World Bank
dc.date	2012-03-19T10:23:01Z
dc.date	2012-03-19T10:23:01Z
dc.date	2010-04-01
dc.date.accessioned	2023-02-17T20:42:56Z
dc.date.available	2023-02-17T20:42:56Z
dc.identifier	http://www-wds.worldbank.org/external/default/main?menuPK=64187510&pagePK=64193027&piPK=64187937&theSitePK=523679&menuPK=64187510&searchMenuPK=64187283&siteName=WDS&entityID=000333038_20100526010754
dc.identifier	http://hdl.handle.net/10986/2858
dc.identifier.uri	http://localhost:8080/xmlui/handle/CUHPOERS/243215
dc.description	Mauritania has undergone massive economic and political changes. Mauritania is a West African country located on the western edge of the Sahara desert, with a population of approximately 3 million people that is mostly concentrated in the urban areas. Since independence in the 1960s, Mauritania's economy has been dependent on natural resources, iron ore first then combined with fisheries, and presently oil and other minerals. Natural resources exploitation and more recently oil discovery boosted Mauritania's rate of economic growth, but key challenges remain, in particular the promotion of productive value-adding activities and the creation of a strong, formal class of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). The Government of Mauritania recognizes the strategic role of the private sector and the urgency of supporting SME development as a catalyst for long-term growth. In the Second Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper (GPRSP-II), the Mauritanian authorities indicated that accelerating economic growth will be based on: (i) optimizing spinoff effects from developing the oil business and implementing more effective policies for harnessing the growth potential of other promising sectors; (ii) a thorough reform of the financial system; (iii) significant improvement in the business climate and the development of SMEs; and (iv) giving a greater economic and land-use planning dimension to the infrastructure that supports growth (World Bank, 2006). Furthermore, the authorities identified several priorities to improve the business climate and promotion of SMEs, as follows: (i) improving the legal environment for businesses; (ii) fighting anti-competitive practices; (iii) making tax and customs policies more favorable to business; and (iv) institutional support for the development of trade and commerce. This country economic memorandum (CEM) examines the four most constraining factors to private sector development and proposes the formulation of practical solutions to enable the emergence of a strong class of formal private firms. Specifically, to accelerate growth and to attain the four strategic GPRSP II objectives - (i) optimize spinoff effects; (ii) reform financial system; (iii) improve the business climate and the development of SMEs; and (iv) improve business enabling infrastructure), the CEM analyses the role of taxation to promote firm formalization; skills development to enhance labor productivity; competition policy as a way to address anticompetitive market conduct; and the options for establishing special economic zones as instruments to close infrastructure gaps and promote investment climate reforms.
dc.language	English
dc.publisher	World Bank
dc.rights	CC BY 3.0 IGO
dc.rights	http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/igo/
dc.rights	World Bank
dc.subject	ACCESS TO FINANCING
dc.subject	ACCOUNTING
dc.subject	ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEDURES
dc.subject	AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTION
dc.subject	AGRICULTURE
dc.subject	ANTI-COMPETITIVE PRACTICES
dc.subject	ARABLE LAND
dc.subject	BENEFIT ANALYSIS
dc.subject	BID
dc.subject	BUSINESS CLIMATE
dc.subject	BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT
dc.subject	BUSINESS ENVIRONMENT
dc.subject	BUSINESS ENVIRONMENTS
dc.subject	CAPACITY BUILDING
dc.subject	CAPITAL INTENSITY
dc.subject	CAPITAL INVESTMENT
dc.subject	CAPITAL NEEDS
dc.subject	CENTRAL BANK
dc.subject	COLLUSION
dc.subject	COMMERCIAL GROUPS
dc.subject	COMMODITY
dc.subject	COMMODITY TRADERS
dc.subject	COMPARATIVE ADVANTAGES
dc.subject	COMPETITION POLICY
dc.subject	COMPETITIVE MARKET
dc.subject	COMPETITIVENESS
dc.subject	COMPLIANCE COST
dc.subject	CONSUMER GOODS
dc.subject	CONSUMERS
dc.subject	COST-BENEFIT ANALYSES
dc.subject	CPI
dc.subject	CURRENT ACCOUNT BALANCE
dc.subject	DEMOGRAPHIC
dc.subject	DEPOSITS
dc.subject	DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY
dc.subject	DOMESTIC MARKET
dc.subject	DUAL ECONOMY
dc.subject	ECONOMIC ANALYSIS
dc.subject	ECONOMIC CONDITIONS
dc.subject	ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
dc.subject	ECONOMIC GROWTH
dc.subject	ECONOMIC IMPACT
dc.subject	ECONOMIC PERFORMANCE
dc.subject	ECONOMIC REFORMS
dc.subject	ECONOMICS
dc.subject	ELECTRICITY
dc.subject	EMPIRICAL ANALYSIS
dc.subject	EMPIRICAL RESEARCH
dc.subject	ENABLING ENVIRONMENT
dc.subject	ENVIRONMENTAL
dc.subject	ENVIRONMENTAL DEGRADATION
dc.subject	ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES
dc.subject	ENVIRONMENTS
dc.subject	EQUIPMENT
dc.subject	EXISTING GOVERNMENT
dc.subject	EXPLOITATION
dc.subject	EXPORTS
dc.subject	FARMS
dc.subject	FEASIBILITY STUDIES
dc.subject	FINANCIAL MARKETS
dc.subject	FINANCIAL SECTOR
dc.subject	FINANCIAL SERVICES
dc.subject	FINANCIAL STRUCTURES
dc.subject	FINANCIAL SYSTEM
dc.subject	FISCAL BURDEN
dc.subject	FISCAL POLICY
dc.subject	FISH
dc.subject	FISHERIES
dc.subject	FISHERIES MANAGEMENT
dc.subject	FISHING
dc.subject	FOOD PRICE
dc.subject	FOREIGN COMPANIES
dc.subject	FOREIGN DIRECT INVESTMENT
dc.subject	FOREIGN EXCHANGE
dc.subject	FOREIGN EXCHANGE RESERVES
dc.subject	FOREIGN INVESTMENT
dc.subject	FOREIGN TRADE
dc.subject	GDP PER CAPITA
dc.subject	GOVERNMENT INTERVENTION
dc.subject	GOVERNMENT INTERVENTIONS
dc.subject	GOVERNMENT REGULATIONS
dc.subject	GROWTH POTENTIAL
dc.subject	GROWTH RATE
dc.subject	HUMAN CAPITAL
dc.subject	HUMAN DEVELOPMENT
dc.subject	HUMAN RESOURCES
dc.subject	INCOME
dc.subject	INCOME INEQUALITY
dc.subject	INCOME LEVELS
dc.subject	INCOME TAX
dc.subject	INCOMES
dc.subject	INDUSTRIALIZATION
dc.subject	INFLATION
dc.subject	INFORMAL ECONOMY
dc.subject	INFORMATION SYSTEM
dc.subject	INSTRUMENT
dc.subject	INTERNATIONAL MARKETS
dc.subject	INTERNATIONAL STANDARDS
dc.subject	INTERNATIONAL TRANSACTIONS
dc.subject	INVENTORY
dc.subject	INVESTMENT CLIMATE
dc.subject	INVESTMENT CLIMATE REFORMS
dc.subject	INVESTMENT OPPORTUNITIES
dc.subject	INVESTMENT POLICY
dc.subject	INVESTMENT STRATEGIES
dc.subject	JOB CREATION
dc.subject	JUDICIAL SYSTEM
dc.subject	LABOR FORCE
dc.subject	LABOR MARKET
dc.subject	LABOR PRODUCTIVITY
dc.subject	LACK OF TRANSPARENCY
dc.subject	LAND TITLES
dc.subject	LAW ENFORCEMENT
dc.subject	LEGAL ENVIRONMENT
dc.subject	LEGAL FRAMEWORK
dc.subject	LEGAL PROTECTION
dc.subject	LEGAL PROVISIONS
dc.subject	LEGAL SYSTEM
dc.subject	LEVIES
dc.subject	LEVY
dc.subject	LOCAL BUSINESS
dc.subject	LOCAL GOVERNMENTS
dc.subject	LOW-INCOME COUNTRY
dc.subject	MACROECONOMIC DATA
dc.subject	MACROECONOMIC PERFORMANCE
dc.subject	MARGINAL BENEFITS
dc.subject	MARGINAL COST
dc.subject	MARGINAL COSTS
dc.subject	MARKET ACCESS
dc.subject	MARKET DISTORTIONS
dc.subject	MARKET SHARE
dc.subject	MARKET SHARES
dc.subject	MARKET SIZE
dc.subject	MARKET STRUCTURE
dc.subject	MARKET STRUCTURES
dc.subject	MARKET SURVEILLANCE
dc.subject	MICRO-ENTERPRISES
dc.subject	MICROCREDIT
dc.subject	MICROENTERPRISES
dc.subject	MINES
dc.subject	MOBILE PHONE
dc.subject	MONOPOLIES
dc.subject	MONOPOLY
dc.subject	NATIONAL BANK
dc.subject	NATIONAL BANKS
dc.subject	NATIONAL INFRASTRUCTURE
dc.subject	NATURAL RESOURCE
dc.subject	NATURAL RESOURCES
dc.subject	NATURAL RESOURCES EXPLOITATION
dc.subject	OIL
dc.subject	OIL SECTOR
dc.subject	OLIGOPOLIES
dc.subject	OPERATIONAL INDEPENDENCE
dc.subject	OPTIMIZATION
dc.subject	PENSION
dc.subject	POLITICAL SYSTEM
dc.subject	POLITICAL UNCERTAINTY
dc.subject	POLITICAL UNREST
dc.subject	PRICE FIXING
dc.subject	PRICE INCREASES
dc.subject	PRICE VOLATILITY
dc.subject	PRIVATE GOODS
dc.subject	PRIVATE INVESTMENT
dc.subject	PRIVATE SECTOR
dc.subject	PRIVATE SECTOR DEVELOPMENT
dc.subject	PRIVATIZATION
dc.subject	PRODUCERS
dc.subject	PRODUCTION INPUTS
dc.subject	PRODUCTION STRUCTURE
dc.subject	PUBLIC EXPENDITURES
dc.subject	PUBLIC MARKETS
dc.subject	PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP
dc.subject	PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS
dc.subject	RATE OF RETURN
dc.subject	RATES OF RETURN
dc.subject	REAL GDP
dc.subject	REGULATORY AGENCY
dc.subject	REGULATORY BARRIERS
dc.subject	REGULATORY REGIMES
dc.subject	RENT SEEKING
dc.subject	RETURNS
dc.subject	RURAL COMMUNITIES
dc.subject	SKILLED WORKERS
dc.subject	SMALL BUSINESS
dc.subject	SMALL BUSINESSES
dc.subject	SMALL ENTERPRISES
dc.subject	SOCIAL PROTECTION
dc.subject	STATISTICAL DATA
dc.subject	SUSTAINABLE GROWTH
dc.subject	SUSTAINABLE MANAGEMENT
dc.subject	TAX
dc.subject	TAX BREAKS
dc.subject	TAX POLICY
dc.subject	TAX RATE
dc.subject	TAX RATES
dc.subject	TAX REGIME
dc.subject	TAX REGIMES
dc.subject	TAX REVENUE
dc.subject	TAX SYSTEM
dc.subject	TAXATION
dc.subject	TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE
dc.subject	TELECOMMUNICATIONS
dc.subject	TELEPHONE SERVICES
dc.subject	TOTAL OUTPUT
dc.subject	TRADE LIBERALIZATION
dc.subject	TRADE REFORMS
dc.subject	TRANSPARENCY
dc.subject	TURNOVER
dc.subject	UNEMPLOYMENT
dc.subject	UNEMPLOYMENT RATE
dc.subject	UNEMPLOYMENT RATES
dc.subject	UNFAIR COMPETITION
dc.subject	VALUE ADDED
dc.subject	WAGES
dc.subject	WEAK ENFORCEMENT
dc.subject	WEALTH
dc.subject	WITHHOLDING TAX
dc.subject	WORLD DEVELOPMENT INDICATORS
dc.subject	WORLD MARKET
dc.subject	WORLD TRADE
dc.subject	WORLD TRADE ORGANIZATION
dc.subject	WTO
dc.title	Mauritania - Policy Options to Enhance Private Sector Development : Country Economic Memorandum
dc.type	Economic & Sector Work :: Country Economic Memorandum
dc.coverage	Africa
dc.coverage	West Africa
dc.coverage	Sub-Saharan Africa
dc.coverage	Sahel
dc.coverage	Mauritania