OFFICIAL LAUNCH OF THE ACTIVITIES OF THE NOUAKCHOTT MARITIME SERVICES COMPANY

In the name of Allah, the Merciful, the Most Merciful

Peace and blessings be upon the Holy Prophet

Mr. Minister of Equipment and Transport,

Madam Minister of Commerce, Industry, Crafts and Tourism,

Mr Minister of Fisheries and Maritime Economy, Excellency the Ambassador of France,

Mr. Wali of Nouakchott South,

Mr. President of the National Union of Mauritanian Employers

Mr. General Director of the Arise Mauritania Company,

Mr. Director General of the Société des Services Maritimes in Nouakchott,

Ladies and gentlemen,

On this occasion, which constitutes an important strategic turning point, I would like to welcome you on my own behalf and on behalf of all the staff of the Port of Friendship.

Minister,

This inauguration that you are overseeing today marks the launch of the activities of the Société des Services Maritimes which has just been created on the basis of a partnership between Boluda France and the Autonomous Port of Nouakchott.

Given the high degree of expertise available to this world-renowned strategic partner and the quality of the cutting-edge equipment that will be used, these services will represent a qualitative leap that will make the Port of Nouakchott a modern port providing maritime services of a very high level.

The creation of this mixed capital company is part of efforts to promote the Port and raise its level of productivity and competitiveness in accordance with the “taahoudaty” (my commitments) program of His Excellency the President of the Republic, Mr. Mohamed Ould Cheikh Ghazwani, and the development strategy of the infrastructure and services sector which constitutes a primordial lever of economic development.

Our Port – as its name indicates – symbolizes friendship and fraternity between the countries of the Sahel. And therefore it aims to be a sub-regional integration gateway serving the landlocked hinterland. With this in mind, we aspire to the installation of a railway line connecting our country to other countries in the Sahel to promote sub-regional trade.

Alongside the improvement of the services provided, we intend to carry out the dredging of the southern posts to reach depths of 11.5 to 12 meters to make the port one of the deepest in the region.

In addition to these dredging operations and development of services carried out through an effective and transparent partnership with a global company guaranteeing port users the best quality and safety standards, PANPA has begun the modernization and digitalization of its operations.

Likewise, various measures have been taken to appease

The social climate to ensure the smooth running of port activity, its efficiency and productivity.

These reforms allowed a significant increase in the gross operating surplus which for the past eight months was of the order of 9 billion old ouguiyas.

They also enabled the conclusion of important agreements with global companies such as BP. These agreements will have a positive impact on the future of the port which will strengthen its professionalism and its ability to honor its commitments.

The attendance of Port staff as well as their performance; and close collaboration with the teams of the French company Eiffage, made it possible to transport 3 million tonnes of stones at the rate of one truck every minute, in optimal conditions of safety and fluidity.

No incidents were recorded during this complex and risky operation.

The success of these operations gives PANPA credibility among its partners; and highlighted its ability to respect its commitments.

Positive social negotiations have also made it possible to establish a peaceful climate, avoiding the enormous losses previously caused by successive strikes at the port.

I take this opportunity to thank the dockers for their discipline and responsibility and I pledge to Allah that none of their rights will be lost. The Port will spare no effort to improve their conditions. I nevertheless urge them to be wary of fruitless escalations and to preserve the climate of tranquility which currently prevails, which we have obtained thanks to Allah and the support of His Excellency the President of the Republic and the Government of Prime Minister Mr. Mohamed Ould Bilal.

This is why I take this opportunity to express the gratitude of the staff and the entire port family to His Excellency the President of the Republic for his incessant support to the port through the adoption of Decree 63/20 which allowed him to have greater autonomy and has made available the necessary means to accomplish its mission.