Overview

Cabo Verde has long prioritized improving maritime and air transportation to unify the country’s nine inhabited islands, but it is a complex task that remains a work in progress.  In 2019, Cabo Verde restructured and privatized its national airline operator and signed a concession contract for the provision of maritime transportation of passengers and cargo.  In 2021, the government re-nationalized the air carrier and is implementing a plan to resume international flights, starting with flights to Lisbon.  In 2019, the airline and ferry operators were each serving more passengers and showing improvements in key efficiency indicators.  The sector is showing signs of recovery following the significant negative impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, including an increase in the number of flights and airline operators.  However, reliability remains a challenge in maritime transportation.  The size of the market, the current needs of the sector, and the expected increase in tourism demand may offer opportunities for interested companies to explore.  Cabo Verde and the United States signed an Open Skies Agreement in 2002, and Cabo Verde operates under similar agreements with the European Union and others.

Leading Sub-Sectors

Aviation:  There are opportunities for the sale of airline and aviation equipment, as well as medevac airplanes and helicopters.  The government inaugurated the first aviation school in the country on the island of Sal.  The school will provide training to cabin crew, aeronautical maintenance technicians, and others.

Maritime Sector:  Cabo Verde relies heavily on ferry boats and would like to become a regional logistics hub for transshipping.

Urban Transport:  Electric cars would help relieve Cabo Verde’s dependence on imported oil.  The government’s target is for 100 percent of Cabo Verde’s vehicles to be electric by 2050.   Improvements in urban transportation are needed as the country’s cities expand.

Opportunities

Despite global uncertainty in the transportation sector, there are several opportunities, including government plans to purchase an aircraft for medical evacuations and growing interest in importing electric cars.  In May 2022, the Cabo Verdean government selected Vinci Airport as the concessionaire for airport management.  There remain opportunities in handling services, which the government also plans to privatize.  The country has an open skies policy and has signed bilateral air services agreements with several countries.  Cabo Verde continues to welcome investments and private partnerships in the transportation sector, including private operators wishing to enter domestic and international airline operations.

Resources

• · Airport Security Agency
• · Ministry of Tourism and Transportation
• · Civil Aviation