First day of the Regional Health Investment Forum: Mauritania calls on the international private sector
Nouakchott, July 13, 2026. Mauritania aims to position itself as a new destination for health service investments in Africa. This strong message was delivered at the opening of the Regional Health Investment Forum, organized by the Islamic Center for the Development of Trade (ICDT), in partnership with the Mauritanian Ministry of Health and the Mauritania Investment Promotion Agency (APIM). Bringing together governments, international institutions, investors, hospital groups, pharmaceutical companies, and development partners, the first day focused on public-private partnerships and investment as key elements of the continent’s health sovereignty.
In his opening speech, Dr Tah Ahmed Meouloud, Director General of APIM, set the tone by calling on international investors, hospital operators, medical service providers, pharmaceutical manufacturers, and health technology companies to make Mauritania a regional investment platform. According to him, the future of African health systems relies on increased mobilization of private capital, capable of accelerating infrastructure modernization, specialized facility development, pharmaceutical production, and health services. His intervention was an explicit invitation to partnership between governments, investors, and healthcare professionals to build a competitive medical ecosystem for Africa.
In her address, Latifa El Bouabdellaoui, Director General of the Islamic Center for the Development of Trade (ICDT), emphasized that this meeting aims to bring states, the private sector, investors, and technical partners together around a common ambition: to reduce the health dependency of member countries of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation and develop regional value chains in the health industries.
Dr Ahmad Kawesa Sengendo, Deputy Secretary-General for Economic Affairs of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), shared the same conviction. Presenting ICDT as a platform to achieve the Organization’s economic goals, he emphasized the strengthening of collective capacities, building sustainable health security, and investing in human capital. He particularly highlighted that the halal pharmaceutical market represents nearly $75 billion, with the majority of these products still being imported outside the OIC space, underscoring the importance of developing a regional pharmaceutical industry.
As the guest of honor at the Forum, the Director-General of the World Health Organization, Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, stated that “this forum could not have come at a better time”, a few years after the Covid-19 pandemic which profoundly highlighted the vulnerabilities of health systems. He reiterated that each dollar invested in health generates multiple dollars in return on investment, making this sector not only a social imperative but also a powerful driver of economic growth.
According to the WHO chief, the answer lies in partnership. No country can achieve global health security alone. Solutions involve technology transfer, industrial investments, local production of vaccines and medicines, as well as the development of regional research and innovation capacities.
In a memorable statement, he declared: “We must remember Nouakchott as the capital where we decided to invest differently. Let’s move from strategy to implementation.”
The Mauritanian Minister of Health, Pr Thiam Tidjani, reaffirmed the authorities’ commitment to sustainably strengthen the national health system through strong partnerships with investors and international institutions. Dr Thiam Samba, a roving ambassador, advocated for increased mobilization of partners around African health priorities.
The session “Invest in Mauritania” highlighted the opportunities offered by the country. The Director-General of APIM pointed out that health is now among the strategic sectors eligible for benefits under the new Investment Code, offering an attractive environment for national and international investors looking to develop hospital, pharmaceutical, or medical technology projects.
National health institution leaders provided a candid assessment. The Director-General of CNASS emphasized that there is indeed a demand for care, but it is hindered by an insufficient supply, hence the need for massive investments in infrastructure, equipment, human resources, and specialized services.
Present at the event, Zine El Abidine Cheikh Ahmed, President of the National Employers’ Union of Mauritania (UNPM), reaffirmed the readiness of the Mauritanian private sector to support this new dynamic and contribute to the development of a true health economy.
African Health Ministers also shared their national experiences. Dr Ahmadou Lamin Samateh, Minister of Health of Gambia, called for increased harmonization of African health policies, regretting that over sixty years after independence, the continent’s dependency remains particularly high.
His Senegalese counterpart, Dr Ibrahima Sy, emphasized the necessary conditions for sustainable investments: a long-term vision, a stable and predictable regulatory environment, and sustained investment in human capital.
The Somali Minister of Health, Dr Ali Haji Adam Abubakar, highlighted regional cooperation as a key lever to strengthen health system resilience and promote skills sharing.
The first day concluded with the signing of a memorandum of understanding between the World Health Organization and the Mauritania Investment Promotion Agency (APIM), aimed at promoting investments in the health sector, facilitating partnerships, and supporting strategic projects.
At the end of this inaugural day, a consensus emerged: health is no longer just a social sector. It now stands as a strategic economic sector, an industrialization lever, and a factor of sovereignty. By hosting this Forum, Mauritania clearly demonstrates its ambition to become one of the leading African platforms for health investment.
