Episode 9: Will Tiny Cabo Verde Succeed in Becoming West Africa’s Tech Giant?

Cabo Verde has always been, to many on the African continent, a small slice of beach resorts perfect for a holiday get away. Tourism is one of the key revenue earners for this small west African country, along with manufacturing and the services industry. But since 2019, the Cape Verdean government has been pushing a new digital plan that aims to position the country as a major tech hub in the sub region, rivaling countries like Nigeria and Ghana, West Africa’s tech heavyweights. But Cabo Verde, in addition to having fewer natural resources and a smaller economy, has a huge brain drain problem, with more of its population outside the country than inside it. So how will the country achieve its goal? Will targeting youths for tech training and building a fancy technology park with state of the art facilities to host start-up companies deliver the momentum the country needs?

Guests:

Uyoyo Edosio is a Principal Innovation and technology expert at the African Development Bank (AfDB) where she manages a multi-million dollar portfolio focused on digital innovation and education. She's MIT-trained, and has advised governments on their digital strategies, on the continent, and well beyond. Uyoyo is currently the program lead for the Cape Verde Technology Park Project at AfDB. In one of her most recent opinion pieces, Uyoyo lays out how African governments can tweak regulations to enable entrepreneurs to test products or services without the usual bureaucracy.

Pedro Lopes is the Cabo Verdean Secretary of State of the Digital Economy. Before that, he was the country's Secretary of State for Innovation and Technical Training, the youngest-serving government official at the time. Pedro is also a former YALI fellow and is credited with receiving several awards, including being named on the MIPAD Most Influential People of African Descent under 40. He also organized the first-ever Tedx in Praia. In 2018, Pedro was profiled by Forbes Magazine.

Further Readings:

• Official Page - Cape Verde Tech Park: https://www.techpark.cv/ 

• AfDB Cape Verde Park Project Overview: https://projectsportal.afdb.org/dataportal/VProject/show/P-CV-GB0-004 

• IOM Facts and Figures, Cape Verde: https://www.iom.int/node/106721/facts-and-figures 

• AfDB Agrees Loan For Cape Verde Technology Park: https://www.constructafrica.com/news/afdb-agrees-loan-cape-verde-technology-park 

• Cape Verde Receives 15 Million Lean for Two Data Centers: https://www.datacenterdynamics.com/en/news/cape-verde-receives-15-million-loan-for-two-data-centers/ 

• African Development Bank Partners With Cabo Verde to Boost Climate-Resilient Technology Park: ​​https://thefintechtimes.com/african-development-bank-partners-with-cabo-verde-to-boost-climate-resilient-technology-park/ 

• A Guide to Cabo Verde’s Digital Economy - US Department of Commerce