AGP Executive Report

Financial Markets: Cabo Verde was the biggest riser in the 2026 Africa Financial Markets Index, climbing six places to 13th as stronger foreign-exchange reserves and sustainable-finance initiatives lifted its score. Aviation: Lufthansa won Portugal’s selection to buy an initial 44.9% stake in TAP for €1.025 billion. TAP serves several Cabo Verde destinations, though the deal still needs regulatory approval and does not guarantee changes to routes or fares. Airline Capacity: Cabo Verde’s CVsky signed an ATR72-600 lease with Avation, a move that could support its operations. Business Climate: Cabo Verde remains among seven African economies the EU recognizes for tax cooperation, with no outstanding corrective measures. Regional Business: Serbia approved a report on its visa-waiver agreement with Cabo Verde for diplomatic, official and service passport holders; both governments cite potential cooperation in areas including tourism and the economy.

Football Funding: CAF has raised annual grants to each of its 54 member associations to $700,000, up 33%. The increase was announced at a strategy conference in Sal and is intended to support administration and football development. Aviation: Lufthansa has been selected to buy an initial 44.9% stake in TAP Air Portugal in a deal valued at about $1.3 billion. TAP serves several Cabo Verde destinations, making its future network and fares important for passengers and businesses; the deal still needs regulatory approval. Financial Markets: Cabo Verde climbed six places to 13th in the 2026 Africa Financial Markets Index, with stronger foreign-exchange reserves and new sustainable-finance initiatives cited as gains. Air Connectivity: Local carrier CVsky has agreed to lease an ATR 72-600 from Avation, a step in its fleet plans.

Financial Markets: Cabo Verde made the biggest advance in Absa and OMFIF’s 2026 African Financial Markets Index, rising six places to 13th as stronger foreign-exchange reserves and sustainable-finance initiatives lifted its score. Banking: BAI Group, including BAI Cabo Verde, held more than 50 meetings at Sibos 2026 to explore partnerships in trade finance, cross-border payments and digital services. Aviation: State carrier CVsky has taken delivery of an ATR72-600 under a 12-year lease, backed by a government guarantee of up to $3.7 million. The aircraft is expected in Cabo Verde by the end of October; a second plane is planned for 2027.

Financial Markets: Cabo Verde made the biggest gain in the 2026 Africa Financial Markets Index, climbing six places to 13th. Stronger foreign-exchange reserves and sustainable-finance initiatives helped, though thin trading remains a continent-wide barrier to investment. CAF Funding: At its Sal conference, CAF announced annual support of $700,000 for each of its 54 member associations, up from $200,000—a combined $37.8 million a year. It aims to raise the figure to $1 million through commercial partnerships. Aviation: State-owned CVsky has taken delivery of an ATR72-600 under a 12-year lease with Singapore-based Avation, backed by a government guarantee of up to $3.7 million. The aircraft is expected in Cabo Verde by the end of October; a second is planned for 2027. Business Climate: Cabo Verde ranked 66th globally in a new capitalism index, placing among Africa’s ten highest-ranked countries.

Aviation: State-owned CVsky has taken delivery of an ATR 72-600 under a 12-year lease with Singapore-based Avation. The deal carries a government guarantee of up to $3.7 million, and a second aircraft is planned for 2027. Business Climate: Cabo Verde ranked 66th in a new global capitalism index, placing among Africa’s ten highest-rated countries for market conditions. Tourism: The islands are drawing growing attention from solo female travellers, adding to their appeal as a tourism destination. Regional Finance: At its Sal conference, CAF announced annual support of $700,000 for each of its 54 member associations, up from $200,000, and said it hopes to reach $1 million through commercial partnerships.

Aviation: Cabo Verde’s state-owned CVsky has taken delivery of an ATR72-600 under a 12-year lease with Singapore’s Avation, backed by a government guarantee of up to $3.7 million. The aircraft is due in Cabo Verde by the end of October; a second is planned for early 2027, subject to a separate guarantee. Tourism: Cabo Verde is attracting more solo female travellers as visitor numbers grow, pointing to expanding demand for tourism services. Across Africa, ports are also seeking a bigger share of cruise passengers’ spending by connecting port calls with inland experiences—a potential model for island destinations.

Aviation: State-owned carrier CVsky has taken delivery of an ATR72-600 under a 12-year lease with Singapore-based Avation, backed by a government guarantee of up to $3.7 million. The aircraft is due in Cabo Verde by the end of October; a second is planned for early 2027, subject to a separate guarantee. Football Funding: At its strategy conference in Sal, CAF said each of its 54 member associations receives $700,000 annually, up from $200,000, and aims to raise that to $1 million through sponsorships and commercial partnerships. The increase dates to 2021, not the recent conference.

Football Finance: At CAF’s strategy conference in Sal, Patrice Motsepe said annual support for each of Africa’s 54 football associations is $700,000, up from $200,000 since 2021. CAF wants to raise it to $1 million per association through sponsorships and commercial partnerships. FIFA also reported $1 billion invested in African football over the past decade across 124 projects; that is continent-wide funding, not a new Cabo Verde allocation. Tournament Economics: CAF is reviewing its plan to move the Africa Cup of Nations to a four-year cycle, with Motsepe saying a return to every two years is under consideration. Critics warn a less frequent tournament could limit commercial opportunities and team visibility; no decision has been announced. Tourism: Cabo Verde is gaining popularity with solo female travellers as tourism grows, adding to the country’s appeal as a visitor destination.

Football Finance: At its October 7–9 strategy conference in Sal, CAF said each of its 54 member associations receives $700,000 a year, up from $200,000. The increase began in 2021; CAF aims to reach $1 million per association through sponsorships and commercial partnerships. Development Funding: FIFA said it has invested more than $1 billion in African football over the past decade through 124 projects—not a new allocation announced at the conference. Tourism: Cabo Verde is attracting more solo female travelers as its tourism sector booms.

Football Investment: At a strategy conference on Sal, FIFA said its Forward programme had invested more than $1 billion across Africa over the past decade, funding 124 projects. The figure is cumulative, not a new allocation, and no specific amount for Cabo Verde was announced. AFCON Business: CAF is reviewing its plan to move the Africa Cup of Nations to a four-year cycle, with president Patrice Motsepe saying a return to every two years is under consideration. The schedule could affect sponsorship and commercial opportunities across African football. Tourism: Cabo Verde is drawing more solo female travellers as tourism grows, according to a recent report, highlighting the sector’s continued appeal.

Football Business: CAF is reconsidering its plan to hold the Africa Cup of Nations every four years. President Patrice Motsepe said a return to the traditional two-year cycle is under review at a strategy conference in Cabo Verde. Associations have raised concerns about lost visibility and commercial opportunities; no decision has been made. Sports Investment: FIFA President Gianni Infantino pledged to seek more funding for African football, citing $1 billion invested through FIFA Forward in 124 projects over the past decade. Africa’s 54 football associations also backed his 2027 re-election bid.

AFCON’s Commercial Stakes: CAF is reconsidering its planned switch to a four-year Africa Cup of Nations, with President Patrice Motsepe saying a return to a biennial cycle is under review. National associations have raised concerns about the change’s commercial impact and the tournament’s visibility; no final decision has been announced. Football Investment: At a strategy conference on Sal, FIFA President Gianni Infantino said FIFA had invested $1 billion in African football over the past decade and pledged to seek further resources. The funding covers projects across the continent, not Cabo Verde alone. Tourism and Skills: Cabo Verde’s foreign minister said cooperation with Luxembourg, including support for a hospitality school, helped develop workers for a tourism sector now welcoming more than 1.2 million visitors a year. Recent coverage also points to growing interest in Cabo Verde among solo female travellers.

Football’s Commercial Stakes: CAF is reconsidering its plan to stage AFCON every four years, with president Patrice Motsepe saying a return to the biennial schedule is under review at a strategy meeting in Cabo Verde. The Guardian has reported the change could cost CAF $1 billion in revenue. Tourism and Skills: Cabo Verde’s tourism sector welcomes more than 1.2 million visitors a year, and a hospitality school backed by Luxembourg has helped build the workforce to support its growth. Cabo Verde–Luxembourg Ties: The countries’ foreign and environment ministers met in Luxembourg to discuss cooperation, with a focus on developing local skills and capacity.

Tourism: Cabo Verde welcomed a record 1.25 million hotel guests in 2025, up 6% year on year, while overnight stays rose 8.3% to 6.12 million. Tourism helped drive 6.3% real GDP growth, with Sal accounting for nearly 60% of hotel arrivals. Skills & Cooperation: Cabo Verde’s foreign and environment ministers met Luxembourg officials to discuss bilateral ties dating to the 1980s. A Luxembourg-backed hospitality school has helped train workers for the country’s fast-growing tourism industry. Regional Startups: ECOWAS’s 2026 startup programme drew about 9,000 applications, with finalists from 12 member states competing for $65,000 in prizes and potential access to a $5 million investment deal room.

Football Investment: At a strategy conference on Sal, FIFA president Gianni Infantino pledged to seek more funding for African football, citing $1 billion invested across the continent over the past decade. Cape Verde’s 54 football associations unanimously backed his bid for re-election. Tourism and Skills: Cape Verde welcomed a record 1.25 million hotel guests in 2025, up 6% year on year, while overnight stays rose 8.3% to 6.12 million. Tourism helped drive 6.3% GDP growth, according to the World Bank. During a visit to Luxembourg, Cape Verde’s foreign and environment ministers discussed long-running cooperation, including support for a hospitality school that has helped train workers for the tourism sector. Air Links: Azores Airlines says it will continue strengthening connections with Cape Verde as its parent group advances plans to sell at least 75% of the carrier; SATA has received eight expressions of interest.

US Travel Costs: Cabo Verde is among 50 countries whose nationals face a US visa bond of up to $20,000; the updated list does not specify Cabo Verde’s implementation date. Tourism Growth: The country welcomed a record 1.25 million hotel guests in 2025, up 6% year on year, while tourism helped drive GDP growth of 6.3%, according to the World Bank. Sal accounted for nearly 60% of hotel arrivals. Air Links: Azores Airlines plans to maintain connections with Cabo Verde as parent SATA Group pursues the carrier’s privatization; the group has received eight expressions of interest for a stake of at least 75%. Startup Funding: An ECOWAS startup competition drew about 9,000 applications, with organizers projecting up to $5 million in investment opportunities through its deal room.