Alexander Murychev and the Ambassador of Mauritania Discuss New Horizons for Bilateral Cooperation

As part of the development of the African direction of the Financial and Business Association of Euro-Asian Cooperation, a working meeting was held in Moscow on June 30, 2026, between Alexander Murychev, Chairman of the Board of the FBA EAC, and Ismail Abdel Vetah, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Islamic Republic of Mauritania to the Russian Federation. The FBA EAC was also represented at the meeting by Anna Bezdudnaya, Director General, and Alexander Biryukov, Head of the Representative Office in West Africa and Mauritania. The meeting was dedicated to identifying new growth drivers in trade and economic cooperation between the two countries.

The Mauritanian side identified three key areas for deepening cooperation, each possessing significant potential for the implementation of joint projects:

· Fishing industry — a historically fundamental area of interaction dating back to the era of the successful MAVSOF joint venture. Mauritania possesses significant fish reserves—pelagic (1.3 million tons) and demersal (30,000–40,000 tons)—but requires technology and investment for their effective development. The parties discussed the possibility of organizing fish supplies to the Russian and EAEU markets.

· Fuel and energy sector and mining — the most dynamically developing area. Mauritania is interested in attracting Russian technology and investment for the development of oil and gas fields and mineral extraction, including gold. This track was advanced during recent negotiations at the Russian Ministry of Energy and on the sidelines of SPIEF 2026.

· Agriculture — as a food importer, Mauritania is ready to purchase Russian wheat and invites Russian companies to participate in the development of the country's agricultural sector.

An important aspect of the negotiations was the discussion of Mauritania's logistical advantages. The country boasts an extensive coastline (700 km) and four operational ports, making it a natural hub for the transit of goods to neighboring countries, including Mali.

Alexander Murychev confirmed his readiness to provide organizational assistance in establishing direct contacts between Russian entrepreneurs and their Mauritanian counterparts, noting the rich history of Soviet-Mauritanian relations, which serve as a solid foundation for modern interaction. An agreement was reached to hold a series of bilateral business meetings involving industry associations and relevant ministries.

Special attention was paid to the upcoming III Russia–Africa Summit (October 27–29, 2026, Moscow), which will serve as a key platform for consolidating the agreements reached and giving impetus to new projects.

The FBA EAC operates a Representative Office in West Africa and Mauritania (headed by Alexander Biryukov), which will coordinate further steps to implement the agreements reached.