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Cape Verde

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Presentation

Cape Verde is an island state in West Africa composed of an archipelago of ten volcanic islands. It is located in the Atlantic Ocean off the coasts of Mauritania and Senegal. The archipelago is divided into two series of islands: to the south the islands of Sotavento (Brava, Fogo, Santiago and Maio) and to the north the islands of Barlavento (Boa Vista, Sal, São Nicolau, Santa Luzia, São Vicente and Santo Antão). Santiago alone comprises more than half of the country's population, including the capital and largest city Praia. The country is a former colony of Portugal, from which it became independent on 5 July 1975.

Tourism, fishing and remittances from the diaspora are the country's main economic resources. Investment, particularly in tourism and transport infrastructure, has been significant since the beginning of the century. A fourth international airport has been built near Mindelo, the country's second largest city, birthplace of the famous singer Cesária Évora (who died in 2011). It should improve the attractiveness of the island and open it up.
However, the country continues to import 85% of its food needs, which is a challenge for the authorities, who are seeking to reduce this dependence on the outside world.

 

 

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