The African Development Bank (AfDB) President, Akinwumi Adesina, has said that the recently upgraded Port of Maio in Cape Verde will transform the face of the economy of Maio.

The AfDB chief inaugurated the upgraded port on Wednesday, 07 September, during a three-day visit to the country.

It is understood that the modernisation of the Port of Maio and that of Palmeira cost €36 million, with the bank providing €17.87 million.

The European Union (EU) provided €11 million in support, while the government of Cape Verde provided €7.8 million.

The project is expected to make it a lot easier to sell salt, cheese, fish and other key commodities.

‘This beautiful port will transform the face of the economy of Maio. It will become better connected to the rest of the country, rapidly expanding business and economic opportunities and boosting tourism’, Adesina said.

The port modernisation project covered the rehabilitation of the jetty, the construction of a roll-on, roll-off platform for ships, and access roads.

According to the bank, it is also supporting women’s associations in the production of salt, milk, and cheese in Maio.

‘An investment like this brings rapid changes to livelihoods and transforms economies. It will connect Maio with the rest of the country and the world’, Prime Minister José Ulisses de Pina Correia e Silva said.

He added, ‘Maio has great potential for sustainable tourism and a good balance between the environment and the economy. We look forward to future collaboration with the bank and other partners in this regard’.

For his part, the EU’s Director of International Cooperation and Policy, Felix Fernandez Shaw, said the port would help the country resume its trajectory of sustainable growth and unlock opportunities for sustainable tourism and access to regional markets.

Annual passenger traffic is expected to increase by 34 percent, from 41,700 to over 55,000 in 2024.

Photo source: AfDB