Mauritania, like several African countries, is stepping up efforts to develop entrepreneurship and support startups and SMEs. For more efficiency, the country needs a framework that will govern all of its actions.  

On Saturday, September 9, the Mauritanian Parliament approved the Startup Act, the draft startup law in Mauritania, the Ministry of Digital Transformation announced this in a press release published by local media.

"The purpose of this law is to promote the creation and promotion of startups in Mauritania [by focusing on] creativity, innovation, the use of new technologies, the achievement of high added value as well as national and international competitiveness," the release informs.

The draft law was initiated by private and public stakeholders of the Mauritanian tech industry in March 2022. On September 7, 2023, it was presented to Ministers at the Ministerial Council held that day. The law is part of the Islamic Republic of Mauritania's overall strategy for the development of the digital economy and innovation. Its main objective is to define an incentive-based legal and institutional framework for the creation and development of young technology companies in Mauritania.

According to the country's authorities, the law includes provisions such as conditions for granting the startup label and support as well as conditions for access to tax, customs, and miscellaneous incentives to facilitate the installation and development of startups.

Once promulgated by the President of the Republic and implemented, the Startup Act should facilitate startups’ access to financing and investment, both locally and internationally. The aim is to label 300 startups over the next five years, support a dozen or so entrepreneurial support institutions –therefore helping create 3,000 direct jobs– and contribute to the digital economy at a rate of around 2.5 million MRU ($66,000) in sales per labeled startup.

Samira Njoya