Francisco Carvalho, Mayor of Praia, Cape Verde, was last Saturday, February 11th, at the Town Hall of Loulé, to present the Diaspora Platform for the Development of the Municipality of Praia to the Cape Verdean community based in Algarve.
«Loulé has been, for many years, the home where many citizens who came from Cape Verde live. They know how much Loulé is a welcoming land, which has also been built with the effort and work of Cape Verdeans, a community that has made a great contribution throughout its life to what Loulé is today. We have a history of many decades of meetings, experiences, work, friendship, happiness, sadness», explained Vítor Aleixo.
The main objective of this trip by Francisco Carvalho to Loulé was to publicize the platform, which was born out of a public-private partnership between the Municipality of Praia and DKC – Impact Investment, and which constitutes an opportunity for the diaspora to invest «with profitability, in a safe and transparent way» in his homeland, in projects with a social impact, thus contributing to the development of Praia and the entire island of Santiago.
Born from a dream that dates back many years, «it is a project that meets the anxieties of the diaspora and the Municipality», said the Cape Verdean mayor.
The idea is to channel emigrant investment towards the development of Praia, allocating remittances to investment projects in two areas: projects that generate profit and projects of a social nature.
Thus, projects were defined taking into account the need for the development of the municipality and the defined priorities. In a first phase, community agro-industrial projects are on the table, the creation of the Museum of Scientific Knowledge, the Family Park and the launch of educational vouchers.
Subsequently, investments will focus on equipment for basic needs, such as the Supply Market, the Municipal Slaughterhouse, the Corn Factory or the waste collection and treatment company.
The total estimated value for the projects is 3,9 million euros, but in 10 months of work «it has already been possible to raise 3 million euros».
Through this platform, it will also be possible for all interested parties to present their own projects and obtain funding of up to 20 thousand euros.
«Cape Verde imports almost everything, the development of the industry is weak and there is a need to promote merit and opportunities for everyone», underlined the mayor of Praia, adding that the objectives of this platform include the promotion of entrepreneurship and the creation of jobs, «through targeted investment in projects that are self-sustaining in the medium term but that will guarantee economic and social gains».
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