Mauritania will launch large-scale sugar production starting 2015, AFP reported on Wednesday (November 7th). Some 430 million dollars will be invested in the project, to be used for the planting of 18,000 hectares of sugar cane in the south, as well as for the construction of processing facilities. Authorities expect the new industry to provide thousands of new jobs.

The State will finance 60% of the endeavour, while the remainder will be funded by international partners.

According to Mauritanian Economy Minister Sidi Ould Tah, this is the "largest agriculture and food industry project that the nation has known in its history".