PRAIA, 11 JULY 2022 – The United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) and the Government of Cabo Verde signed a new Country Programme (CP), which provides a practical framework for UNIDO’s interventions in Cabo Verde over the next 5 years.

The CP is structured in three main focus areas, notably  

• Focus Area 1: Institutional and Trade Capacity Building
• Focus Area 2: Industry Upgrading towards Industry 4.0
• Focus Area 3: Resilient, carbon neutral growth and circular economy

The main objective of the programme is to ensure that Cabo Verde’s population benefits from enhanced integration in regional and global value chains through a competitive, diversified, sustainable and innovative industrial economy, strong and active private sector and adequate policies and strategies. The Government of Cabo Verde will establish the Country Programme Steering Committee (CP SC) that will effectively translate its leadership and policy decisions into action on the ground. The Programme will be implemented under the leadership of the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Energy (MITE) which also chairs the CP SC, and in cooperation with other Government entities, the private sector, civil society, and other UN agencies.

"The CP 2022-2026 is very important for Cabo Verde. The programme will contribute to an enabling environment for industrial development, that will create jobs and boost the business fabric,” declared H.E. Mr. José Ulisses de Pina Correia e Silva, the Prime Minister of Cabo Verde. He called for the private sector to support the CP implementation and assured that the Government would create enabling conditions particularly for small, medium and large companies to invest heavily in green industry, with renewable energy, sustainable water strategy, efficient transport and with prospects for integration in the regional market. “The programme will also promote capacity building through trainings, knowledge transfer, research, digitalization. Cabo Verde already has the potential, including for the pharmaceutical industry, extractive, and the fishing industry. Now it is time to act. We have taken a relevant step with the new CP as a guideline for the national industrial development policy, in line with the Agenda 2030 and we thank UNIDO for this partnership and for being with us on this path,” he concluded.

H.E. Mr. Alexandre Dias Monteiro, Minister of Industry, Trade and Energy of Cabo Verde underscored that “UNIDO is a historical and reference partner for Cabo Verde’s industrial development”. He highlighted the industrial sector as one of the important components of the country’s economic diversification and resilience strategies. “When we are aligned, we move faster and in the right direction. Cabo Verde aims to create an ecosystem that addresses the transversal challenges for industrial development, with interventions in governance and business environment, industry support, infrastructure, human capital, quality management, industrial property, and innovation and technological development. This is a special day for Cabo Verde and the industrial sector in particular. With the signing of this programme, the sector will surely gain a new impulse. This is an instrument that will help the country achieve its strategic vision for the industry sector,” he finished.

Ms. Ana Graça, United Nations Resident Coordinator in Cabo Verde also delivered remarks during the signing ceremony, illustrating the strong One UN spirit and close collaboration of the UN agencies in the country. She underlined that the UN Country Team (UNCT) was formulating the new United Nations Sustainable Development Country Framework (UNSDCF) 2023-2027, which would be aligned with the national Strategic Plan for Sustainable Development 2022-2026 (PEDS II). She further acknowledged UNIDO as a valuable partner for the UNCT’s work and activities and maintained that the new Country Programme would contribute to the future UNSDCF and the national development priorities.

“The programme shall strive to mobilize a minimum of US$14 million over the next five years in support of the national development priorities and as a contribution to the forthcoming next cycle of the United Nations Sustainable Development Country Framework 2023-2027. These resources can be utilized to leverage funding for large-scale industrial infrastructure projects, particularly industrial parks and agropoles,” said Christophe Yvetot, UNIDO Representative for Cabo Verde. “UNIDO welcomes the programme leadership by the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Energy as the Chair of the CP Steering Committee. Strong government ownership and UNIDO expertise will ensure tailor-made, innovative solutions for enhancing the country's productive and trade capacities, while also supporting the implementation of the relevant national policies and strategies,” he highlighted.

For more information, please contact:

Mr. Manuel Mattiat, CP Manager (m.mattiat@unido.org) and Mr. Edson Fernandes, CP National Coordinator (e.fernandes@unido.org).