India and Mauritania sign four MoUs during President Murmu's visit

India and Mauritania signed four Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) to strengthen and deepen their bilateral ties. The MoUs were signed during President Droupadi Murmu’s visit to Mauritania.

President Droupadi Murmu is on a three-nation tour of Algeria, Mauritania and Malawi from 13-17 October 2024. President Droupadi  Murmu is the first Indian president to visit these African countries. 

Highlights of President's visit to Mauritania 

President Murmu arrived in Mauritania on 16 October after the conclusion of her three-day official visit to Algeria from 13-15 October 2024. 

President Murmu was received at the Nouakchott-Oumtounsy International Airport by the President of Mauritania, Mohamed Ould Ghazouani. 

President Murmu held talks with Mauritanian President Mohamed Ould Ghazouani at the Presidential Palace in Nouakchott, the capital city of Mauritania and discussed bilateral issues.

Four MoUs were signed on the occasion between the two countries;

• training of diplomats, 
• cultural exchange, 
• visa exemption and 
• Foreign Office consultations.

Later, the President addressed the small Indian community in Mauritania at a reception hosted by the Ambassador of India to Mauritania.

India-Mauritania bilateral relationships 

India established an embassy in Nouakchott, Mauritania, in June 2021. 

The first Foreign Office Consultations between the two countries were held in Nouakchott on 21 March 2024.

The bilateral trade between the two countries in 2022-23 was $378.24 million. India’s exports to Mauritania were $146.57 million, and imports were $231.68 million.

India mainly exports cereals, pharmaceuticals, plastic products, cotton, ceramics, iron and steel articles, boilers, related mechanical appliances, electrical products, and chemicals.

The main import items from Mauritania are iron and steel, copper, aluminium, electrical machinery, etc.  

Read - President Droupadi Murmu conferred an Honorary Doctorate in Algeria

About Mauritania 

Mauritania is an Islamic country situated along the Atlantic Ocean's coast in Africa. It forms a transitional zone between Arab North Africa, also known as the Maghreb region (Algeria, Morocco, and Tunisia), and the black African populations lying south of the Tropic of Cancer.

Mauritanian was a colony of France, and it gained independence in 1960.

It is a very poor country that lies in the Sahara desert of Africa, and a large part of its population is nomadic.

Mauritania has large reserves of iron ore, copper, and gypsum, as well as some oil resources.

Capital: Nouakchott

Currency:Ouguiya

President: Mohamed Ould Cheikh Ghazouani