Business Tourism Finance: IFC committed up to $15M to Grands Hôtels de Mauritanie to expand the Sheraton Nouakchott Hotel, boosting Mauritania’s business-travel capacity and creating jobs and local supplier demand. Inflation Watch: Mauritania’s June 2026 CPI showed local goods prices up 1% in the month, pushing annual local-product inflation to 10.2%, with fish (+64.1%) and red meat (+27.6%) driving food costs. Oil & Gas Licensing: Murphy Oil and Chariot have applied for offshore exploration acreage in Mauritania, with the government discussing new Exploration & Production Contract authorisations after recent industry pullbacks. Energy Infrastructure: Nouakchott’s power and fuel storage projects are on track for completion before end-2026, including a 72MW generation expansion and a 100,000m³ Port of Friendship storage upgrade. Regional Health Investment: An OIC-backed forum in Nouakchott urged partnerships to strengthen healthcare systems and local production of medicines and medical devices. Local Industry Upgrade: SIG and Enazaha expanded Mauritania’s dairy production with a third aseptic filling line, aiming to cut reliance on imported dairy. Trade & Logistics: Morocco reopened onion exports to African markets, while tomatoes and potatoes remain restricted; the Rosso border crossing is cited as a key bottleneck for regional shipments. Mining/Shipping: East Port Said received a 173,000-tonne iron ore cargo from Mauritania, underscoring ongoing iron-ore export flows.