On the picture HRH Grand Duke Henri of Luxembourg in Cabo Verde.
Translated and edited by Martin Kammandel
At the invitation of the President of Cabo Verde, HE Sr. Jorge Carlos de Almeida Fonseca, His Royal Highness The Grand Duke of Luxembourg paid an official visit to that island state in Africa between 10 and 12 March 2015. It was The Grand Duke’s first visit to Cabo Verde.
HRH Grand Duke Henri of Luxembourg was accompanied by the Minister of Developmental Cooperation and Humanitarian Action, M Romain Schneider as well as Secretary of State at the Ministry of Economy, Mme Francine Closener. Luxembourg’s delegation arrived at the Nelson Mandela International Airport in the capital Praia yet also visited the Island of Santiago, the country’s economic hub, the Island of São Vicente as well as the Island de Santo Antão.
The visit was focused on bilateral ties in the fields of tourism, renewable energy and the maritime industry. Cabo Verde is one of nine partners for Luxemburgish development aid cooperation. During the visit the new cooperation aid agreement was signed (PIC IV 2016-2020).
The Centre for Renewable Energy and Industrial Maintenance (CERMI) was opened with the monetary aid of Luxembourg. It was built between 2011 and 2014. The centre offers educational programmes focused on technologies of renewable energies, and industrial maintenance. Immediately after its inauguration the centre hosted a joint economic forum between the two countries. Minister Romain Schneider signed an agreement to finance two maritime case studies about the access to renewable energies at sea.
15km from Praia, the visit continued to Cidade Velha, formerly capital of Cabo Verde. A College of Hotel and Tourism (EHTCV) was toured as it was opened in 2011 after it was built with the aid of Luxembourg. Tourism is a strategic sector for Cabo Verde’s economic development.
Santo Antão was next on list; whence most Cape Verdians living in Luxembourg hailed, and hence wherein the aid of Luxembourg has been present ever since the independence of the island state.
The visit’s last day featured the signing of the PIC IV after which Luxembourg obliges itself to provide 45 million EUR for Cabo Verde’s further development between 2016 and 2020. The main targets for that period are water sanitation, the combat of unemployment as well as the further development of renewable energies, and the bilateral exchanges between Luxembourg and Cabo Verde.
The Republic of Cabo Verde (Cape Verde) has one mission based in Brussels covering all three Benelux countries, the EU and the international organisations in Benelux. Chargé d’affaires a.i. is Counsellor Octavio Bento Gomes.
Cabo Verde will fête 40 years of independence on 5 July 2015.
Sources: www.monarchie.lu/fr/actualites/evenements/2015/03/10-12032015-capvert/index.html
http://www.gouvernement.lu/4543751/10-visite-caboverde?context=519177
For more information:
Ministry of Developmental Cooperation and Humanitarian Action: http://cooperation.mae.lu/en/
Centre for Renewable Energy and Industrial Maintenance: www.ecreee.org/news/centre-renewable-energy-and-industrial-maintenance-cabo-verde-inaugurated
Official Visit to Cabo Verde: www.youtube.com/watch?v=gP7Q2nGjVd8
The visit’s full programme (in French): www.gouvernement.lu/4543751/10-visite-caboverde?context=519177
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Pictures – 2015 SIP/Carles Caratini
