AGP Executive Report

CAF Finances: CAF has restored the Africa Cup of Nations to a two-year cycle, saying a proposed alternative would take years to generate enough revenue. The reversal followed a strategy conference in Cabo Verde. Air Links: TAP Air Portugal has launched twice-weekly Porto–Sal flights, adding a direct connection for Sal during the winter schedule. Trade Logistics: Cabo Verde joined officials from eight other nations at an Accra workshop on port digitalisation, focused on faster vessel processing and smoother regional trade. Travel Costs: Cabo Verde ranks among Africa’s 10 highest petrol-price countries, adding pressure to transport and business costs. U.S. Visas: Eligible Cabo Verdean applicants for U.S. business or visitor visas may face bonds of up to $20,000 under a program covering 50 countries.

Trade Finance: Twenty-six countries signed the Accra Convention, creating a shared framework for cargo documents across road, rail, air and sea. It aims to help businesses use goods in transit to secure financing and ease cross-border trade. Air Links: TAP has launched twice-weekly Porto–Sal service, adding a direct connection between Sal and northern Portugal for the winter schedule. Port Modernisation: Cabo Verde joined officials from eight other West and Central African countries at an Accra workshop on digital port systems, which can cut paperwork and vessel delays. Fuel Costs: Cabo Verde ranked fourth in Africa for petrol prices in October, adding pressure to transport and business costs. Business Travel: Cabo Verdean applicants for certain US visitor visas are among those who may have to post bonds of $10,000 to $20,000.

Trade Finance: Twenty-six countries signed the Accra Convention, which creates a common framework for cargo documents that businesses can use to secure financing and move goods across borders. It aims to improve SME access to credit and help narrow Africa’s trade-finance gap. Fuel Costs: Cabo Verde ranked fourth among Africa’s most expensive petrol markets in October, adding pressure to transport and household budgets. Port Digitalisation: Cabo Verde joined officials from eight other countries at an Accra workshop on digital port systems designed to cut paperwork and speed up trade. Air Links: TAP Air Portugal has launched twice-weekly Porto–Sal flights for the winter season, expanding connections to Sal and supporting tourism access.

Trade Finance: Twenty-six countries signed the Accra Convention, creating a common legal framework for cargo documents across road, rail, air and sea. The agreement aims to help businesses, especially SMEs, use goods in transit to secure finance and address Africa’s estimated US$74–92 billion trade-finance gap. Air Links: TAP has launched twice-weekly flights between Porto and Sal, expanding connections between Cabo Verde and Portugal for the winter season. Fuel Costs: Cabo Verde ranked fourth among African countries with the highest petrol prices in October, adding pressure to transport and business costs. Port Digitalisation: Cabo Verdean officials joined a regional workshop on digital port systems, which can reduce delays and streamline trade across West and Central Africa.

Business Travel: Cabo Verde is among 50 countries whose citizens may have to post a US visa bond of up to $20,000 for B-1 business or B-2 visitor visas, with the amount set by a consular officer. Costs: The country ranked fourth in Africa for petrol prices in October, adding pressure to transport and business costs. Air Links: TAP Air Portugal has launched twice-weekly Porto–Sal service, expanding connections between Sal and Europe through the winter season. Trade: Cabo Verde joined officials from eight other countries at a regional workshop on port digitalisation, focused on faster vessel processing and smoother trade. Separately, Ghana became the first signatory to the Accra Convention, backed by 25 other countries, which aims to make cargo documents usable to secure trade finance.

Travel Costs: Cabo Verde is among 50 countries whose eligible B-1 business and B-2 visitor visa applicants may be required to post a US bond of $10,000 to $20,000, with the amount set at interview. Fuel Prices: Cabo Verde ranked fourth in Africa for petrol costs in October, adding pressure to transport budgets and the price of goods. Air Links: TAP has launched twice-weekly direct flights between Porto and Sal, strengthening links with Portugal and expanding the island’s winter air service. Port Digitalisation: Cabo Verdean officials joined a regional workshop in Accra on digital port systems, which could cut paperwork and vessel delays across West and Central Africa.

Trade Finance: Ghana and 25 other countries signed the Accra Convention, which creates a shared legal framework for cargo documents used in road, rail, air and sea trade. The agreement aims to help businesses—especially SMEs—use goods in transit as collateral and ease Africa’s estimated $74bn–$92bn trade finance gap. Fuel Costs: Cabo Verde ranked fourth among Africa’s countries with the highest petrol prices in October, at about ₦2,705 per litre, adding pressure to transport and household budgets. Tourism: Searches for Sal rose 67% year on year in Skyscanner’s 2027 travel trends report, pointing to growing interest in the island as a holiday destination.

Fuel Costs: Cabo Verde ranked fourth in Africa for petrol prices in October, at about ₦2,705 per litre in the comparison. High fuel costs can feed through to transport, distribution and everyday prices. Economic Climate: Cabo Verde placed 42nd globally in the Fraser Institute’s 2026 economic freedom ranking, based on 2024 data, putting it among Africa’s stronger performers. Tourism: International searches for Sal rose 67% year on year in Skyscanner’s 2027 travel trends, while Boa Vista is being promoted as a winter-sun destination — signs of continued interest in the islands’ tourism market.

Tourism: A winter-sun guide pitches Boa Vista as an affordable two-week escape, with average highs of 24–27°C from November to February. Economic Freedom: Cabo Verde ranked 42nd globally in the Fraser Institute’s 2026 index, placing it among Africa’s top performers; the report uses 2024 data. LDC Graduation: A UN ESCAP review finds post-graduation effects vary widely, with exposure to lost trade preferences and reliance on development finance shaping outcomes. Resource-rich economies often faced limited immediate trade shocks, but remained vulnerable without diversification.

LDC Graduation: A UN ESCAP study finds that earlier graduates faced varied outcomes: losing trade preferences caused less disruption where exports depended little on them, but resource dependence remained a diversification risk. The findings offer useful lessons for Cabo Verde’s post-graduation economy. Economic Freedom: Cabo Verde ranked 42nd globally in the Fraser Institute’s 2026 report, placing it among Africa’s top three economies; the ranking is based on 2024 data. Tourism Demand: Skyscanner reports searches for Sal rose 67% year on year in its 2027 travel trends, a sign of growing interest in the island as a destination.

Tourism: Searches for Sal rose 67% year on year in Skyscanner’s 2027 travel trends, signalling growing interest in Cabo Verde as a destination. Economic Standing: Cabo Verde ranked 42nd worldwide for economic freedom in the Fraser Institute’s 2026 report, placing it among Africa’s top performers. Remote Work: South African citizens are not eligible for Cabo Verde’s digital nomad programme, according to a report on remote-work visa options.

Tourism Demand: Searches for Sal rose 67% year on year in Skyscanner’s 2027 travel trends report, making the island one of the fastest-rising destinations. Economic Standing: Cabo Verde ranked 42nd worldwide for economic freedom in the Fraser Institute’s 2026 report, placing it among Africa’s top performers behind Mauritius and Seychelles. Remote Work: South African citizens are not eligible for Cabo Verde’s digital-nomad programme, according to a report on work-abroad options.

Tourism: Searches for Sal rose 67% year over year in Skyscanner’s 2027 travel trends report, a signal of growing interest in Cabo Verde as a destination. Infrastructure: Cabo Verde ranked seventh in Africa for electricity access, with 98.4% coverage. Financial Markets: The country posted the largest improvement in the 2026 Absa Africa Financial Markets Index, gaining seven points as 21 of 29 markets improved. Economic Freedom: Cabo Verde ranked third in Africa and 42nd globally in the Fraser Institute’s 2026 report, behind Mauritius and Seychelles.

Economic Freedom: Cabo Verde ranked 42nd worldwide in the Fraser Institute’s 2026 index, placing it among Africa’s leading economies for business and market freedom. Electricity Access: The country ranked seventh in Africa, with 98.4% of its population connected to the grid. Financial Markets: Cabo Verde made the biggest improvement among 29 African markets in Absa’s 2026 index, gaining seven points as regional market conditions strengthened.

Economic Freedom: Cabo Verde ranked third in Africa and 42nd globally in the Fraser Institute’s 2026 economic-freedom report, behind Mauritius and Seychelles. Financial Markets: The country posted the largest improvement in the 2026 Absa Africa Financial Markets Index, gaining seven points as 21 of 29 assessed markets improved. Infrastructure: Cabo Verde ranked seventh in Africa for electricity access, with 98.4% of its population connected. Air Connectivity: A new ATR 72-600 is set to strengthen inter-island air links, supporting travel and commerce across the archipelago.

Infrastructure: Cabo Verde ranked seventh in Africa for electricity access, with 98.4% of its population connected to power, according to October 2026 rankings. Financial Markets: The country recorded the largest improvement in Absa’s 2026 Africa Financial Markets Index, gaining seven points as 21 of 29 assessed markets improved. Inter-island Connectivity: A new ATR 72-600 is set to add air links within Cabo Verde, supporting travel and commerce across the islands.