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 Centre for the Development of Trade (ICDT), in partnership with the Mauritanian Ministry of Health and the Investment Promotion Agency in Mauritania (APIM). Bringing together governments, international institutions, investors, hospital groups, pharmaceutical companies, and development partners, this first day focused on public-private partnerships and investment at the heart of the continent’s health sovereignty.
In his opening remarks, Dr Tah Ahmed Meouloud, Director General of APIM, set the tone by calling on international investors, hospital operators, medical service providers, pharmaceutical manufacturers, and healthcare technology companies to make Mauritania a regional investment platform. According to him, the future of African healthcare systems depends on increased mobilization of private capital, capable of accelerating infrastructure modernization, specialized facility development, pharmaceutical production, and healthcare 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 Centre for the Development of Trade (ICDT), emphasized that this meeting aims to bring together states, the private sector, investors, and technical partners 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 healthcare industries.
Dr Ahmad Kawesa Sengendo, Deputy Secretary-General for Economic Affairs of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), shared the same conviction. Presenting the ICDT as a platform to achieve the economic objectives of the Organization, he emphasized the strengthening of collective capacities, the building of sustainable health security, and investment in human capital. He notably pointed out 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 healthcare systems. He reminded that every dollar invested in health generates several dollars in return on investment, making this sector not only a social imperative but also a powerful driver of economic growth.
For the WHO chief, the answer lies in partnership. No country can achieve global health security alone. Solutions include technology transfer, industrial investments, local production of vaccines and medicines, as well as the development of regional research and innovation capacities.
In a statement designed to leave a lasting impression, he said: “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, Dr Thiam Tidjani, reaffirmed the authorities’ commitment to sustainably strengthen the national healthcare system through strong partnerships with investors and international institutions. Dr Thiam Samba, an itinerant 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 noted 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 diagnosis. The Director-General of CNASS emphasized that the demand for care is real but hindered by still 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 Mauritanian Employers’ Union (UNPM), reaffirmed the willingness of the Mauritanian private sector to support this new dynamic and contribute to the development of a true healthcare 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 more than sixty years after independence, the continent’s dependency remains particularly high.
His Senegalese counterpart, Dr Ibrahima Sy, stressed 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 an essential lever to strengthen healthcare 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 Investment Promotion Agency in Mauritania (APIM), aimed at promoting investments in the healthcare sector, facilitating partnerships, and supporting structuring projects.
At the end of this inaugural day, a consensus emerged: health is no longer just a social sector. It now emerges 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 healthcare investment.
