Africa-Press – Cape verde. The Commission for the Cape Verdean Diaspora in Portugal held a conference this Saturday in Oeiras, themed “Connecting, Investing and Transforming,” with the aim of reflecting on the diaspora’s contribution to the development of Cape Verde.
The meeting, which took place at the Taguspark Congress Center in Oeiras, was attended by Cape Verdean and Portuguese businesspeople and was chaired by the president of the African Party for the Independence of Cape Verde (PAICV, opposition), Francisco Carvalho.
In his opening speech, the conference organizer, Paulo Mendes, highlighted the strategic importance of the Cape Verdean diaspora dispersed across three continents, emphasizing its expertise in diverse areas, from the financial sector to the digital one.
Therefore, he argued that Cape Verdeans who “are more outside than inside” should not be seen merely as a source of remittances.
“I think the diaspora shouldn’t be seen only as a source of remittances. It’s the greatest asset for our development process,” he said, questioning why this potential hasn’t yet been fully exploited.
Addressing the PAICV candidate for Prime Minister in the May 17 elections, Paulo Mendes expressed his expectation that this event could contribute to elevating the Cape Verdean diaspora to “another level.”
According to the businessman, the diaspora is not only seeking political speeches, but the creation of concrete mechanisms that allow its effective participation in the country’s development, which, even from afar, has it close by.
“The diaspora wants to contribute, but it doesn’t want to contribute only with remittances. It wants to make investments with purpose. The first, obviously, is an act of love, and the second is an act of partnership. This qualitative leap from love to partnership, which has never been realized, is something we truly need to make,” he emphasized.
Despite acknowledging the existence of political will, accessible investment mechanisms, and a new generation of diaspora willing to commit in a different way, Paulo Mendes pointed to a lack of engagement as one of the main challenges.
In an interview with Inforpress, the president of the PAICV stated that the meeting serves to listen to the business sector and gather input for the party’s strategic vision for the sector.
For the political leader, the issue of diaspora investment must be accompanied by greater speed and openness from the public administration, aiming to facilitate the integration of projects by Cape Verdeans residing abroad into the national economy.
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