The agreement positions Mauritania at the center of a broader wave of regional financing momentum ahead of the MSGBC Oil, Gas & Power 2026 conference and exhibition this December, where energy security, trade finance and investment partnerships are expected to dominate discussions.

ITFC Financing Expands Across MSGBC

Signed on March 10, 2026, the agreement was executed by Mauritania’s Minister of Economic Affairs and Development Abdallah Ould Souleymane Ould Cheikh-Sidia, and ITFC CEO Adeeb Yousuf Al Aama, aligning closely with national development priorities.

The Mauritania-ITFC agreement focuses on energy imports, SME financing, agriculture and trade facilitation, combining capital with technical assistance. It builds on more than $1.2 billion in approvals since 2008, signaling a deepening partnership aligned with national development policies.

A key feature is the provision of confirmation lines for letters of credit, enabling Mauritanian banks to guarantee international transactions, boosting access to fuel imports and essential goods while reducing risk and easing pressure on domestic liquidity constraints.

Comparable frameworks are reshaping the region. In Senegal, a €2 billion ITFC agreement signed in 2025 supports petroleum imports, agriculture and healthcare, complemented by a €630 million 2026 financing plan and targeted facilities for energy and SME trade finance.

Meanwhile, The Gambia operates under a $250 million framework signed in 2021, emphasizing petroleum imports, agricultural value chains and SME development, with structured annual allocations supporting groundnuts, cashews and essential commodity trade flows.

Strengthening Energy and Trade Systems

These agreements support energy supply stability across the MSGBC region, where many countries still depend on imported refined fuels despite growing LNG output. Trade finance facilitates ongoing supply, while domestic projects such as the Greater Tortue Ahmeyim LNG development continue to expand production capacity.

At the same time, liquidity support for banks and SMEs is helping broaden access to regional and international markets. By connecting trade finance with industrial and agricultural activity, ITFC frameworks are contributing to the development of value chains and supporting more diversified, export-focused economies.

Momentum from MSGBC 2025

The previous edition of MSGBC Oil, Gas & Power, held last December, coincided with a series of agreements across gas, renewables and green hydrogen. Developments such as upstream expansion, large-scale green hydrogen ventures and regional financing mechanisms progressed in parallel with industry discussions surrounding the event. 

Training initiatives, local content agreements and infrastructure deals also underscored the platform’s role as a forum for dialogue, bringing together governments, investors and developers active across West Africa’s energy landscape.

As the 2026 edition approaches, the Mauritania-ITFC agreement reflects the type of large-scale financing activity taking place across the region. The conference, scheduled for December 1–3 in Dakar, is expected to provide a platform for further engagement on trade finance, energy investment and policy coordination within the MSGBC reigon.