EIB and Banque El Amana Launch €20 Million Facility to Advance Sustainable Fisheries and Inclusive SME Growth in Mauritania

EIB and Banque El Amana Launch €20 Million Facility to Advance Sustainable Fisheries and Inclusive SME Growth in Mauritania

(IN BRIEF) At FfD4 in Seville, the EIB and Banque El Amana signed a €20 million loan facility to on-lend to Mauritanian SMEs in the seafood value chain. Forty percent of the funds are reserved expressly for women-led (30 percent) and youth-led (30 percent) businesses, meeting 2X Challenge benchmarks and reinforcing the EU–Mauritania migration and employment pact. The financing under EU Global Gateway will promote sustainable fisheries, require MSC certification commitments, and include technical assistance. It builds on Team Europe partnerships—BMZ, KfW, and local banks—to boost the blue economy and coastal infrastructure via the EFSD+.

(PRESS RELEASE) LUXEMBOURG, 1-Jul-2025 — /EuropaWire/ — The European Investment Bank (EIB), together with Banque El Amana (BEA), has signed a €20 million financing agreement to support small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Mauritania’s seafood value chains. Announced today at the 4th International Conference on Financing for Development, this operation under the EU’s Global Gateway initiative will bolster the blue economy—a strategic pillar of EU–Mauritania cooperation—and foster inclusive growth.

Under the facility, at least 30 percent of funds will be earmarked for women-led or women-majority enterprises, and another 30 percent for youth-led or youth-majority businesses, aligning with the 2X Challenge criteria and Mauritania’s March 2024 EU–Mauritania partnership on migration and employment.

“This partnership strengthens BEA’s role in advancing a sustainable blue economy,” said Mohamed Ahmed Salem Bouna Moctar, CEO of Banque El Amana. “We are committed to inclusive growth that empowers women, youth, and the responsible use of our natural resources.”

EIB Vice-President Ambroise Fayolle commented, “By targeting sustainable fisheries—a linchpin of Mauritania’s economy—we protect natural habitats while building resilient local value chains. Prioritizing women and young entrepreneurs embodies our dual environmental and social mandate under Global Gateway.”

European Commissioner for International Partnerships Jozef Síkela added, “This Global Gateway investment deepens our support for Mauritania’s blue economy and expands opportunities for women and youth, reinforcing the partnership I witnessed firsthand during my December mission.”

As a condition of financing, beneficiary fisheries companies must commit to best practices and pursue international certifications such as those from the Marine Stewardship Council, backed by tailored technical assistance. This agreement complements ongoing Team Europe efforts—including BMZ, KfW, and Mauritanian banks—to develop sustainable small-pelagic fisheries and fund coastal landing-site construction under the EFSD+ instrument.

Background information

About EIB Global

The EIB is the long-term lending institution of the European Union, owned by the Member States. It finances investments that contribute to EU policy objectives.

EIB Global is the EIB Group’s specialised arm devoted to increasing the impact of international partnerships and development finance, and a key partner in the Global Gateway. It aims to support €100 billion of investment by the end of 2027 – one-third of the overall target of this EU strategy. It is designed to foster strong, focused partnership within Team Europe alongside fellow development finance institutions and civil society. EIB Global brings the EIB Group closer to people, companies and institutions through its offices around the world.

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https://www.linkedin.com/company/eib-global/

About Banque El Amana

BEA is a Mauritanian commercial bank under private law, established in 1996. It is governed by national legislation and supervised by the Central Bank of Mauritania. BEA provides a wide range of services to a diverse clientele ranging from individuals to large companies – including SMEs. It has nine branches across the country (in Nouakchott, Nouadhibou, Assaba, Trarza, Hodh El Gharbi, and Dakhlet Nouadhibou) and is a market leader in several strategic sectors for the national economy, including fisheries, agri-food, energy, telecommunications and infrastructure. BEA cultivates trusted partnerships with key domestic and international stakeholders across strategic sectors such as energy, industry, agribusiness, services, humanitarian assistance, and development. It collaborates closely with United Nations agencies supporting refugees and vulnerable communities, as well as major actors active in financial inclusion. The bank also relies on a vast network of international correspondent banks, including Société Générale Paris, UniCredit, and BRED – Banque Populaire. In 2023, BEA stepped up its action to promote sustainability by implementing a loan facility in partnership with KfW development bank to promote the local processing and availability of small pelagic fish , illustrating its commitment to supporting Mauritania’s economic and green transition. In the same vein, it also launched its own mobile wallet in 2023, called Amanty. Amanty can be used for payments, transfers and telephone top-ups, strengthening financial inclusion and reducing reliance on cash.

Website: www.bea.mr

LinkedIn: Banque El Amana: Overview | LinkedIn

Facebook: Banque El Amana – Facebook

About the European Union’s priorities in Mauritania

The European Union has been active in Mauritania for 50 years and works to promote socioeconomic development in the country, with a focus on healthcare, education, technical and vocational training, the environment, energy and support for the private sector, particularly in fishing, agriculture and livestock. It also supports the country’s governance, working to modernise public administration, in addition to its involvement in the fields of security, stability and migration management. As part of the 2021-2024 programme, a budget of €125 million was made available to promote human development, the transition to green and blue economies, and good governance. The European Union’s work in Mauritania is part of the Global Gateway, initiative, which fosters sustainable and reliable connections for the benefit of people and the planet.

Media Contact:

Anne-Cécile Auguin
a.auguin@eib.org
+352 4379 – 83330

Press Office

press@eib.org
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SOURCE: European Investment Bank