JOSÉ MARIA PEREIRA NEVES Prime Minister of the Republic of Cape Verde

Prime Minister Neves reflects on Cape Verde’s tremendous changes in the past 30 years: GDP has grown by 700%, illiteracy reduced by 60%, and continuing the development into the future is a firm priority.

Cape Verde’s status with the World Bank has risen from ‘‘least developed country’’ to ‘‘middle-income country’’. What would you say has been the driving force behind the country’s many impressive achievements?

I think the main element in our success has been good governance, which has been a strategic resource for us and a driving force behind Cape Verde’s development. We have enhanced our human institutional capacity in order to achieve this, and it has allowed us to solve the problems of the people and the issue of sustained development.

One of the clearest recognitions of this has been the recent awarding of funds from the Millennium Challenge Account, which will bring close to $110 million to the economy. Cape Verde was chosen out of 60 possible recipient countries worldwide. How did you succeed in this and what do you think it will mean for the country’s image?

Good governance was indeed a key element in the awarding of these funds. Cape Verde has achieved all of the essential conditions: democracy, freedom for its citizens, respect for human rights, sound and prudent management of public administration. We have shown a strong government strategy and a clear vision for the future. This has allowed us to send signs of credibility to the international community, and in return, receive its confidence.

Looking forward to the future, what do you think this will bring to the image of Cape Verde abroad?

It will allow Cape Verde to project the image of a modern, competitive and developed country, while guaranteeing strong social solidarity. Through the modernization of the country’s transport networks, Cape Verde will become a transport hub for both passengers and cargo. In the next few years, the archipelago will have a number of international airports and our national airline, TACV, is upgrading to become a carrier of reference in the region. The ports facilities are being developed to further support fisheries and shipping. Sectors of energy and industry will also be significantly developed. Finally, we are also expanding on Cape Verde’s capacity as a financial hub.