On April 3, 2025, a mission from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) arrived in Praia, Cape Verde, led by Sediko Douka, the Commissioner for Infrastructure, Energy and Digitisation. The mission included the ECOWAS Resident Representative in Cape Verde along with the Acting Director and Programme Officer of the Project Preparation and Development Unit (PPDU). They convened with Cape Verde’s Minister for Infrastructure, Spatial Planning, and Housing.
The objective of the meeting was to discuss ECOWAS’s support for the development of Cape Verde’s 2025-2040 Infrastructure Master Plan. This support includes a $50,000 grant aimed at aiding the creation of the national infrastructure plan along with technical assistance from PPDU. This assistance is intended to offer strategic guidance in the planning, technical review, and implementation of the master plan.
In launching support for the master plan initiative, Sediko Douka, representing the ECOWAS Commission President Dr. Omar Alieu Touray, expressed gratitude to Cape Verde’s government, specifically to President José Maria Neves. Douka emphasized ECOWAS’s commitment to ensuring member states establish effective policies and frameworks for infrastructure services.
The initiative coincides with ECOWAS’s upcoming anniversary, celebrating 50 years of regional service and cooperation. This milestone underscores ECOWAS’s dedicated focus on enhancing infrastructure services, connectivity, and economic growth for the region.
Cape Verde’s Minister Victor Coutinho expressed thanks to the ECOWAS Commission for its backing. He highlighted that the National Infrastructure Master Plan would provide a comprehensive framework across all economic and social infrastructure sectors, aiming to boost economic development and regional integration.
After the official events, ECOWAS’s PPDU team engaged in technical sessions with the Cape Verde Infrastructure team to outline a roadmap for future steps. The ECOWAS delegation also met with Foreign Affairs Minister José Filomeno Monteiro and Secretary of State for the Digital Economy Dr. Pedro Lopes. Discussions included Cape Verde’s role in the Amílcar Cabral Submarine Cable Telecommunications Project and other regional cooperation matters.
The visit concluded with acknowledgments from the ECOWAS delegation for Cape Verde’s hospitality and commitment to regional cooperation, highlighting the country’s dedication to regional integration and shared prosperity principles.
As ECOWAS moves into its next 50 years, the Commission strives to enhance connectivity, foster economic growth, and improve infrastructure for citizens across the region.
