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This second joint review of Guinea and Mauritania, the fourth for Guinea and the third for Mauritania, has enabled us to assess the changes in their trade policies and practices, and the effects thereof on their economies since 2011. Our discussions have benefited from the participation of H.E. Ms Naha Mint Hamdi Ould Mouknass, Minister for Trade, Industry and Tourism and head of the delegation of Mauritania, and Ms Fanta Cisse, Secretary General of the Ministry of Trade and head of the delegation of Guinea. I am also grateful to H.E. Mr Alberto Sanz for his contribution as the discussant, and to the Members for their commitment to this review.
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During the period covered by its Fourth Trade Policy Review (TPR), Guinea introduced a number of reforms that helped to improve its economic situation. The adoption of a new Mining Code, the implementation of targeted measures in the agricultural sector, and the revival of hydro-electric power generation all helped to improve the attractiveness of the Guinean economy, which is heavily dependent on mining resources. As a result, the annual GDP growth rate, less than 2% in 2010, rose to over 5% in 2011 and 2012 before gradually subsiding to 3.5% in 2015 owing to problems in the mining sector, aggravated in 2015 by the Ebola epidemic, which seriously hampered economic activity. With the end of the epidemic in 2016, mining activities recovered and the agricultural sector began to perform well.
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The Republic of Guinea is situated in the south-west of West Africa between latitudes 7°05’ and 12°51’ north, and longitudes 7°30’ and 15°10’ west, half way between the Equator and the Tropic of Cancer. It has borders with Liberia and Sierra Leone to the south; Côte d’Ivoire to the east; and Guinea-Bissau, Senegal and Mali to the north.