AGP Executive Report

Tourism Skills: Cabo Verde’s foreign and environment ministers visited Luxembourg for talks on decades of cooperation. Luxembourg’s support for a hospitality school helped build the workforce needed to serve more than 1.2 million tourists a year. Air Connectivity: Azores Airlines says it will continue strengthening links with Cabo Verde, Europe, mainland Portugal and North America as its parent group pursues stability and privatization. Startup Scene: Cabo Verde’s Afrikan Coders was among the finalists in the ECOWAS startup competition, which drew entries from 12 member states and offered a route to regional visibility and investment.

African Football: At a strategy conference in Cabo Verde, CAF president Patrice Motsepe said the organization is reconsidering its plan to hold the Africa Cup of Nations every four years, with a return to a biennial schedule under discussion. Tourism Skills: Cabo Verde’s foreign and environment ministers met officials in Luxembourg to discuss longstanding cooperation. Luxembourg-backed hospitality training has helped supply workers for a tourism sector now welcoming more than 1.2 million visitors a year. Air Connectivity: Azores Airlines says it will continue strengthening links between the Azores and Cabo Verde as it pursues privatization, while its parent group prioritizes operational and financial stability. Startups: Cabo Verdean company Afrikan Coders was among the finalists in the ECOWAS Business Startup Programme, which drew about 9,000 submissions and offers prize funding and investment opportunities.

Football Strategy: Cabo Verde hosted CAF’s October 7–9 strategy conference, where FIFA President Gianni Infantino pointed to Morocco’s stadiums and training centres as examples of African football investment. CAF is also reconsidering its plan to move the Africa Cup of Nations to a four-year cycle from 2028. Tourism Skills: Cabo Verde’s foreign and environment ministers met officials in Luxembourg, where both sides highlighted cooperation on hospitality training. A hospitality school supported by Luxembourg has helped prepare workers for a tourism sector now welcoming more than 1.2 million visitors a year. Startup Growth: Cabo Verdean startup Afrikan Coders reached the final of ECOWAS’s business startup programme, which drew about 9,000 applications and offered finalists access to prizes and potential investment. Air Links: Azores Airlines says it will continue strengthening connections with Cabo Verde as its parent group pursues privatization and focuses on operational and financial stability. Climate Diplomacy: Cabo Verde ambassador Tania Romualdo co-facilitated UN negotiations on a declaration addressing sea-level rise and the legal rights of threatened island states.

Sports and Infrastructure: At a CAF strategy conference in Cabo Verde, President Patrice Motsepe said the organization is reconsidering its plan to move the Africa Cup of Nations to a four-year cycle. FIFA President Gianni Infantino also highlighted Morocco’s stadiums and training centers as models for African football investment. Tourism and Skills: Cabo Verde’s foreign and environment ministers met officials in Luxembourg to discuss cooperation, including training for the tourism workforce. A hospitality school supported by Luxembourg has helped build skills as annual visitor numbers passed 1.2 million. Air Links: Azores Airlines says it will continue serving Cabo Verde as it pursues privatization, while its parent group prioritizes financial and operational stability. Startups: Cabo Verde’s Afrikan Coders was among the finalists in the ECOWAS startup competition, which drew about 9,000 submissions and offered prizes and potential investment opportunities.

Football Industry: At CAF’s strategy conference in Cabo Verde, president Patrice Motsepe said the body is reconsidering its plan to move the Africa Cup of Nations to a four-year cycle from 2028. FIFA’s Gianni Infantino also highlighted football infrastructure projects across Africa, including training centres and stadiums. Tourism and Skills: Cabo Verde’s foreign and environment ministers met officials in Luxembourg to discuss cooperation. The partnership has supported hospitality training, helping supply workers for a tourism sector that now welcomes more than 1.2 million visitors a year. Regional Startups: Cabo Verdean team Afrikan Coders was among the finalists in ECOWAS’s startup competition, which drew about 9,000 applications and offered a route to prizes and investment opportunities. Air Links: Azores Airlines says it will continue strengthening connections with Cabo Verde, Europe, Portugal and North America as its privatization process advances.

Tourism Skills: Cabo Verde’s foreign and environment ministers met Luxembourg officials to discuss cooperation focused on self-sufficiency and skills. A Luxembourg-backed hospitality school has helped supply workers for a tourism sector now welcoming more than 1.2 million visitors a year. Air Links: Azores Airlines says it will continue strengthening connections between Cabo Verde, Europe, mainland Portugal and North America as its parent group pursues privatization and operational stability. Startup Scene: Cabo Verdean tech venture Afrikan Coders was among the finalists in the ECOWAS Business Startup Programme, which drew about 9,000 applications and is expanding regional support for entrepreneurs.

Tourism and Skills: Cabo Verde’s foreign and environment ministers met officials in Luxembourg to discuss decades of cooperation. The partnership helped establish a hospitality school that has supported the tourism workforce as visitor numbers grew. Luxembourg says future cooperation should build local skills and self-reliance. Air Connectivity: Azores Airlines says it will continue strengthening links between Cabo Verde, Europe, mainland Portugal and North America as its privatization process advances. Its parent group is prioritizing operational and financial stability. Startups: Cabo Verdean team Afrikan Coders was among the finalists in ECOWAS’s startup competition, which drew about 9,000 submissions from 12 member states. The program offers funding and potential investor access to businesses seeking to scale across the region.

Startup Ecosystem: Cabo Verde’s Afrikan Coders made the top five at the ECOWAS Startup Awards, where 60 finalists competed for $65,000 in prizes; the leading ventures may also access $5 million in investment opportunities. Air Connectivity: Azores Airlines says it will continue strengthening links between the Azores, Cabo Verde, Europe, Portugal and North America as its parent group pursues the airline’s privatization. Climate Resilience: Cabo Verde has validated a national multi-hazard early-warning roadmap after storm Gonzalo damaged coastal infrastructure in Santa Maria. The next step is securing resources and putting the plan into practice with businesses, public agencies and communities.

Regional Startups: Cabo Verde’s Afrikan Coders was among five finalists in the ECOWAS Startup Awards, which drew about 9,000 submissions. The competition offers winners access to a potential US$5 million in investment deals. Air Connectivity: SATA Group says Azores Airlines will continue strengthening links with Cabo Verde as it pursues stability and privatization; the company has received eight expressions of interest for a majority stake. Economic Lessons: Cabo Verde’s experience as a small, open economy exposed to external shocks offers lessons for Cambodia as it prepares to graduate from least-developed-country status, an IMF analysis says. Construction Equipment: Hitachi Construction Machinery Europe has appointed Movicortes as its dealer in Cabo Verde, covering equipment sales, parts, technical services and aftermarket support.

Aviation & Connectivity: SATA Group is pushing for fleet, operational and financial stability as it advances the privatization of SATA Internacional-Azores Airlines, including a phase-out of one Airbus A320ceo, while SATA Air Açores focuses on reliability across the weather-sensitive Azores and connectivity links to Cape Verde, Europe, Portugal and North America. Climate & Legal Stability: A UN sea-level rise declaration adopted on Sept. 24—co-facilitated by Cabo Verde’s ambassador—aims to protect small island states’ legal rights and statehood as waters rise. Health & Preparedness: A hantavirus cluster aboard the MV Hondius led to evacuations near Cape Verde and highlighted WHO’s rapid, no-regrets public health response as cases were identified as Andes virus. Industry & Trade Tech: Hitachi Construction Machinery Europe is reshaping its dealer network across Northwest and Central West Africa, expanding territories for MDA and Movicortes and adjusting coverage for Cape Verde and São Tomé and Príncipe. Digital Infrastructure: EllaLink launched the EllaLink Caribbean Gateway initiative, moving from design to committed investment with a target to be ready for service by end-2029. Business & Startups: ECOWAS Startup Awards crowned Nigeria’s HubPharm Africa with a $30,000 prize, with Afrikan Coders from Cabo Verde among the finalists.

Aviation & Privatization: Cabo Verde-linked SATA Group is pushing for stability as SATA Internacional-Azores Airlines moves through its EU-backed divestment process, with the group prioritizing fleet reliability and financial resilience, including a planned phase-out of an Airbus A320ceo. Climate Law & Diplomacy: A UN sea-level rise declaration adopted by world leaders—co-facilitated by Cabo Verde’s ambassador—aims to clarify legal questions for inundated states, strengthening international certainty for small island nations. Disaster Preparedness: Cabo Verde has validated its Early Warnings for All roadmap after Tropical Storm Gonzalo, focusing on multi-hazard risk monitoring, warning communication, and preparedness—now moving into implementation and resource mobilization. Construction & Mining Support: Hitachi Construction Machinery Europe is reshaping its dealer network across Northwest and Central West Africa, expanding Movicortes coverage to include Cape Verde and São Tomé and Príncipe, while MDA takes on a wider territory for equipment and aftermarket services. Connectivity Investment: EllaLink officially launched the EllaLink Caribbean Gateway initiative, moving from design to committed investment for a submarine cable system targeted for service by end-2029.

Engineering & Capacity Building: China says it will train 10,000 engineers from developing countries over five years, focusing on transport infrastructure and ICT—an approach framed as key to closing development gaps and supporting sustainable growth. Climate Diplomacy (Cabo Verde in the mix): At Fiji’s pre-COP31 meeting, Australia is pushing Pacific climate priorities, but outside attendance is thin; Cabo Verde is listed among confirmed leaders, underscoring the island focus ahead of COP31 in Turkey. LDC Graduation Watch (Cabo Verde cited): The IMF highlights that Cabo Verde’s LDC graduation (2007) offers partial lessons for small, shock-exposed economies, while warning that graduation alone doesn’t automatically change growth trends. Disaster Preparedness (Cabo Verde): Cabo Verde validated its “Early Warnings for All” roadmap after Tropical Storm Gonzalo, starting the next phase of funding and implementation across monitoring, warnings, and response. Industry & Trade (Construction equipment): Hitachi Construction Machinery Europe is reshuffling its dealer network across West and Central Africa, expanding coverage to include Cape Verde and São Tomé and Príncipe.

Fuel Prices Watch: September’s oil-market pressure kept crude above $100, and Africa’s petrol costs diverged sharply—Malawi topped at $3.240/litre while Libya, Angola and Algeria sat far lower, reflecting weak refining, import dependence, FX pressure and transport costs. Climate Diplomacy: Australia’s pre-COP31 push in Fiji/Tuvalu drew criticism for limited outside-Pacific attendance; Cabo Verde is among the confirmed leaders, as Pacific states press for 1.5°C, climate finance and stronger ocean-focused action. IMF & LDC Graduation: The IMF says Cabo Verde’s LDC graduation (2007) offers useful lessons for small, shock-exposed economies, while graduation alone doesn’t guarantee faster growth. Connectivity & Telecoms: EllaLink officially launched the Caribbean Gateway initiative, moving from design to committed investment with service targeted by end-2029. Industry & Trade Links: Hitachi Construction Machinery Europe is reshuffling dealers across West/Central Africa, expanding Movicortes to include Cape Verde and São Tomé & Príncipe. Water & Resilience: Cabo Verde validated its Early Warnings for All roadmap after Tropical Storm Gonzalo, aiming to connect monitoring, warnings and preparedness. EU Support: The EU approved €60m to back Cape Verde’s armed forces via the European Peace Fund, with priority on coast guard maritime security.

IMF & LDC Graduation: The IMF says Cabo Verde’s 2007 graduation from least-developed-country status offers lessons on managing shocks in a small open economy, but graduation itself isn’t a guaranteed driver of faster growth. Climate Diplomacy: Cabo Verde is listed among the confirmed non-Pacific leaders attending Australia/Fiji/Tuvalu’s pre-COP meeting in Fiji, even as diplomats say the guest list is thin and critics question whether the talks will match the urgency of fossil-fuel transition. Connectivity & Telecoms: EllaLink officially launches the EllaLink Caribbean Gateway, moving from design to committed investment for a submarine cable linking French Guiana to Martinique/Guadeloupe (with branches for Aruba, Curaçao and Bonaire), targeting service by end-2029. Maritime Security (Cabo Verde): The EU approves €60m via the European Peace Fund to strengthen Cape Verde’s armed forces, with priority on coast guard maintenance, training, maritime operations, and surveillance. Industry & Trade: Hitachi Construction Machinery Europe reshuffles its dealer network across Northwest and Central West Africa, expanding Movicortes to include Cape Verde and São Tomé and Príncipe. Sports Administration: Cabo Verde hosts CAVB’s honour for Nigerian volleyball leader Engineer Habu Gumel, recognizing decades of development work across Africa.

ECOWAS Startup Awards: HubPharm Africa (Nigeria) won the US$30,000 grand prize at the 2nd ECOWAS Startup Awards in Abuja, beating finalists including Afrikan Coders (Cabo Verde), while the event also launched the ECOWAS Private Sector Development Academy and Startup Networks to boost cross-border entrepreneurship. Cabo Verde Climate Preparedness: Cabo Verde validated its Early Warnings for All roadmap after Tropical Storm Gonzalo, aiming to strengthen the full chain from risk monitoring and forecasting to warning communication and preparedness. EU Support for Security: The EU approved €60m under the European Peace Facility to back the Armed Forces of Cape Verde, with priority on maritime security and Coast Guard training, logistics and surveillance. Regional Water Governance: ECOWAS, UEMOA and CILSS adopted a plan to tackle West Africa’s water crisis, with Cabo Verde set to host the next forum as countries push stronger shared-river management. Construction Equipment Market Move: Hitachi Construction Machinery Europe reshaped its dealer network across Northwest and Central West Africa, expanding Movicortes’ territory to include Cabo Verde and adjusting coverage for mining customers. Climate Diplomacy Spotlight: Reuters reports Australia’s pre-COP push for Pacific leaders is drawing limited attendance from outside the region, with Cabo Verde among the confirmed leaders.

EU Support for Cabo Verde’s Security: The EU approved €60m via the European Peace Facility to strengthen the Armed Forces of Cabo Verde, with priority on Coast Guard maintenance, logistics, training, maritime operations, and surveillance to boost regional maritime security. Water Resilience in Focus: Cabo Verde validated its Early Warnings for All roadmap after Tropical Storm Gonzalo, linking hazard monitoring and forecasting to warning communication and preparedness, with a whole-of-society push to mobilize resources. Regional Water Governance: ECOWAS, UEMOA and CILSS adopted a shared agenda to tackle West Africa’s water crisis, with Cabo Verde set to host the next forum after the Abidjan Declaration. Climate Diplomacy Pressure: Reuters reports that Australia’s pre-COP talks in Fiji and Tuvalu are drawing fewer high-profile leaders than hoped, though Cabo Verde is among confirmed attendees—highlighting how small island states are pushing for stronger climate finance and ocean-focused action. Industry & Trade Signals: Hitachi Construction Machinery Europe is reshaping its dealer network across Northwest and Central West Africa, expanding coverage that includes Cape Verde and Guinea-Bissau. Air Quality Watch: A Copernicus analysis says nearly 40% of the world’s population has been exposed to harmful ground-level ozone in 2026, driven by heat and pollution—an issue for health and agriculture planning.