Sommet 5+5

GENERAL INFORMATION:

	Official Name: Islamic Republic of Mauritania
	Area: 1.030.700 km2 (90% Saharan areas)

	Population: about 3 millions
	Capital: Nouakchott
	Official Language: Arabic
	Religion: Islam

INSITUTIONS:

	- Constitutional Council - Bi-cameral parliament: Senate National Assembly - Accounting Board
	Government Type: Republican presidential
	President of the Republic: Mouaouia Ould Sid Ahmed Taya, elected by direct universal sufferage.
	Political Parties: More than 20, the main parties being: - Republican Democratic and Social Party (ruling party) - Union for Democracy and Progress (chaired by a woman Mrs. Naha Bent Meknass), presidential majority. - Rally for Union and Democracy (presidential majority). - Forum of Democratic Forces (opposition party led by Ahmed Ould Dah). - Progressive Forces Union (opposition party)

ECONOMIC INDICATORS:

	GDP: 1,10 billion US dollars
	Main components of GDP: agriculture, fisheries, cattle-breeding, mines and services.
	GDP per capita: 530 dollars
	Growth rate: 5%
	Currency: Ouguia (about 6 millimes)
	Population growth rate: 3%

ECONOMIC SITUATION AND PROSPECTS:

The Mauritanian economy is essentially based on agriculture, cattle-breeding, fisheries, iron ore and services.
Promising prospects are offered to the Mauritanian economy, especially following the discovery, in 2001, of large quantities of oil and gas in two big oilfields located near the capital Nouakchott.