State-owned investment group Dubai World said it has expressed interest in managing and developing a port in the Mauritanian capital and said it saw "great potential" for a free zone in the country.

Chairman Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem also discussed investment opportunities in minerals, mining and power generation with Mauritanian President Sidi Mohamed Ould Cheikh Abdallahi on Sunday, Dubai World said in a statement.

"Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem, chairman of Dubai World has expressed interest in managing and developing Nouakchott port, and saw great potential for a free zone nearby," it said.

"The Mauritanian President ... welcomed investments from Dubai World," Bin Sulayem said in the statement. "We see plenty of potential for growth in the country's mining, and energy sectors."    

Dubai Ports World, the world's fourth-largest port operator, is an affiliate of Dubai World.

Mauritania, a largely desert country, is Africa's newest oil producer but many of the 3 million population are poor despite rich reserves of fish and iron ore.

ArcelorMittal, the world's largest steelmaker, said in January it had signed a deal with Mauritania's Societe Nationale Industrielle et Miniere (SNIM) to develop an iron ore mining project. - Reuters