China-Portuguese Language Business Forum: Cape Verde looks to do business with China 18 June 2012
There is a good possibility that Cape Verde will enter beneficial business deals with China and with several of the world’s other Portuguese language countries, according to the chief executive officer of Cape Verdean state investment and tourism promotion agency Cabo Verde Investimentos, José Duarte. Indeed, Duarte believes there is a great deal of interest on the part of entrepreneurs and some organizations and institutions from the countries participating in the China-Portuguese Language Countries Business Forum currently taking place on the island of Sal.
The CEO of Cabo Verde Investimentos focused on the People’s Republic of China and Angola, the latter of which appears to be the Portuguese-language African country that has shown the most interest in the Cape Verdean market. “There is interest, and when there’s interest, business happens. I believe that some good business is going to come out of this forum,” he stressed.
Indeed, Duarte made this prediction even before Cape Verde gave its presentation on its business environment and the investment opportunities it can offer, a presentation that took place on Sunday, which was dedicated entirely to Cape Verde.
Four different projects – two of them public-sector and two of them private-sector – were presented to the entrepreneurs at the forum. “The public projects come from [port management company] Enapor, while the private-sector projects are in the tourism sector. There is a large-scale project from British group Cotton Bay, and the Boa Vista and Maio Tourist Development Corporation is also going to discuss investment opportunities on the island of Boa Vista,” he explained.
Forum organizers will also promote personalized meetings between Cape Verdean entrepreneurs and guests from other countries. “We’re going to hold meetings based on the B2B format so that entrepreneurs and investors can get to know each other and become familiar with the investment opportunities both here and in the other countries. The meetings could be fruitful in terms of business,” says Duarte.
According to José Duarte, the forum comes at a time in which Cape Verde is seeking new alternatives for investment financing. “The holding of this meeting here comes at a very opportune time, for its will allow us to consolidate and expand relations not only with China, but with other lusophone countries as well. What’s more, it fosters greater interaction among businessmen,” he affirms.
The 8th edition of the China-Portuguese Language Countries Business Forum, which kicked off Saturday after a delay of some two-and-a-half hours, has as its theme “Integrated Investments for Sustainable Tourist Development.” Between 300 and 400 entrepreneurs hailing from Cape Verde, Portugal, Brazil, Angola, Guinea Bissau, Mozambique, East Timor, Macau and China are participating in the event.
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