Cape Verde and Portugal partner to bridge the gap between academia and the corporate sector, aiming to enhance access to internships and job opportunities for young graduates. This collaborative effort was highlighted at a major job fair that commenced today in the Cape Verdean capital of Praia, featuring prominent companies from the construction, maritime transport, and technology sectors.
Portuguese Ambassador to Cape Verde, João Queirós, explained that the primary objective of the fair is to introduce final-year students at the University of Cape Verde to various corporate opportunities, specific hiring profiles, and available post-graduation internships.
The diplomat emphasized that this initiative—spearheaded by the Portugal–Cape Verde Business Council (CEP-CV) in partnership with the Portuguese Embassy—is part of a broader strategy to strengthen bilateral economic ties through business forums and corporate networking events.
Queirós noted that the participating companies are highly interested in investing and growing within Cape Verde, specifically looking to recruit well-trained professionals from the national university.
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The Rector of the University of Cape Verde (Uni-CV), Astrigilda Silveira, praised the initiative, stating that the fair reflects deep confidence in Cape Verdean youth and underscores the vital role of education in national development.
Silveira highlighted that the ongoing partnership with Portugal has successfully bolstered academic mobility, scientific research, and structural links between the university and the business environment, effectively aligning academic curricula with modern market demands.
Looking ahead, Uni-CV plans to further entrench its corporate connections, foster student entrepreneurship, and establish new employability support systems, including a dedicated employment observatory and institutional frameworks for innovation and applied research.
The newly formed Portugal–Cape Verde Business Council was established with the specific mandate of boosting economic cooperation, unlocking new business opportunities, and streamlining corporate relations between the two nations.
Among the ten major companies comprising the council, several key players participated in the fair to pitch opportunities directly to students, including Banco Interatlântico, Caetano (automotive), Cimpor (cement and construction materials), Grupo ETE (maritime transport), Tecnovia (civil engineering), and VisionWare (technology).
